Company cites lack of viable business opportunities in the USA.
Kaspersky Labs has announced its decision to exit the US market following a ban on the sale and distribution of its software.
According to BBC News, the company cited the lack of viable business opportunities in the countryas the reason for its departure.
This move came after US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo expressed concerns about the potential risks posed by Moscow's influence over Kaspersky, which could threaten US infrastructure and services.
Kaspersky, which had a two-decade presence in the US, denied the allegations and stated it would begin winding down its operations from July 20th 2024, and halt sales on its US website.
The ban, leveraging broad powers established by the Trump administration, restricts transactions between US firms and technology companies from countries considered "foreign adversaries," including Russia. This ban prohibits Kaspersky from selling its software, providing updates, or reselling its products in the US, with violators facing fines from the Commerce Department.
The Commerce Department emphasized the necessity of the ban due to Russia's potential to exploit American personal information. Despite the restrictions, Kaspersky serves over 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients in more than 200 countries globally. The company has vowed to explore all legal avenues to challenge the ban, maintaining that it has not engaged in any activities that threaten US security.
Written by
Dan Raywood
Senior Editor
SC Media UK
Dan Raywood is a B2B journalist with more than 20 years of experience, including covering cybersecurity for the past 16 years. He has extensively covered topics from Advanced Persistent Threats and nation-state hackers to major data breaches and regulatory changes.
He has spoken at events including 44CON, Infosecurity Europe, RANT Conference, BSides Scotland, Steelcon and ESET Security Days.
Outside work, Dan enjoys supporting Tottenham Hotspur, managing mischievous cats, and sampling craft beers.
