All existing Kaspersky instances within the government should be removed by April 1st.
Australia has moved to prohibit the installation of Kaspersky's security software and web services across government systems and devices.
According to The Hacker News, an analysis by the Australian Department of Home Affairs found the Russian firm's products to present an "unacceptable security" risk to the country's data and networks.
The department said all existing Kaspersky instances within the government should be removed by April 1st. While time-limited exemptions could be issued for agencies seeking continued usage of Kaspersky software as a "legitimate business reason," such agencies should take responsibility for any data exposure risks stemming from the software, according to the directive issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
Stephanie Foster, secretary at the Department of Home Affairs, said: “I have also considered the important need for a strong policy signal to critical infrastructure and other Australian governments regarding the unacceptable security risk associated with the use of Kaspersky Lab, Inc. products and web services.”
In a comment to Security Week, the company said: “Kaspersky believes that the decision stems from the current geopolitical climate and was not supported by any technical assessment of the company's products, which the company has been continuously advocating for.
Last year the
U.S. government moved to block the sale of Kaspersky products in the USA, with the company announcing a few weeks later its decision to exit the US market completely.
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.
