Russian Cybersecurity Firm Kaspersky To Exit US After Ban

Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab is set to "gradually wind down" its operations in the US. The company decided after the Department of Commerce announced a ban on the firm selling its prod...

RTT Staff Writer•Tuesday, July 16, 2024•1 min read

Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab is set to “gradually wind down” its operations in the US.

The company decided after the Department of Commerce announced a ban on the firm selling its products in the United States.

The shutdown of Kaspersky Lab’s US operations will start on July 20, according to the company’s statement. The company will lay off its US-based employees.

“The company has carefully examined and evaluated the impact of the US legal requirements and made this sad and difficult decision as business opportunities in the country are no longer viable,” Kaspersky Lab said.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo had last month said that Moscow’s influence over the company posed a significant risk to US infrastructure and services.

However, Kaspersky, which had been operating in the US for two decades, denied the allegations.

Raimondo said the US was compelled to take action due to Russia’s “capacity and… intent to collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans”.

“Kaspersky will generally no longer be able to, among other activities, sell its software within the United States or provide updates to software already in use,” the Commerce Department said.