Kaspersky Labs Leaving US

Kaspersky Labs, the Russian antivirus firm, has announced its decision to leave the US following a ban imposed by the Biden administration on the sale and distribution of its software. The company described the move as a “sad and difficult decision,” citing the lack of viable business opportunities in the country.

After operating in the US for two decades, Kaspersky emphasized that it had been left with no choice but to wind down its operations and eliminate US-based positions starting from July 20, 2024. Its US website has already ceased selling antivirus and cybersecurity tools to American customers.

The Biden administration’s decision, led by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, pointed to concerns over Moscow’s influence on Kaspersky, citing risks to US infrastructure and services. Kaspersky has consistently denied these allegations and expressed its intention to explore legal options to challenge the ban.

Despite being headquartered in Moscow, Kaspersky operates globally with offices in 31 countries, serving over 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients worldwide. The company reiterated its commitment to cybersecurity and emphasized that it has never engaged in activities that threaten US security.

The ban, implemented using powers created during the Trump administration to restrict transactions with technology firms from adversarial nations like Russia and China, effectively prevents further sales, updates, and licensing of Kaspersky products within the US.