Kaspersky’s decision to pull back its anti-malware software from its US customers’ devices has caused quite a stir in the cybersecurity world. This move comes after the US Department of Commerce imposed a ban on the company, citing national security concerns. As a result, Kaspersky has partnered with antivirus provider UltraAV to automatically replace the lost software for its customers.
The ban, which was announced by the Biden administration in June, was a significant blow to Kaspersky’s operations in the US. The company was forced to shut down its US operations and lay off its US-based employees following its addition to the Entity List. This list consists of foreign individuals, companies, and organizations considered to be a threat to national security. This designation put Kaspersky in a difficult position and ultimately led to the partnership with UltraAV.
In an attempt to reassure customers, Kaspersky began emailing users in September, informing them of the transition to UltraAV for continued cybersecurity protection. However, the emails reportedly failed to mention that the switch would be automatic, leaving some users feeling blindsided by the change.
The response from customers has been mixed, with some expressing concerns about the new software. One user on Reddit mentioned that they did not trust UltraAV and were required to log in to perform a system scan, raising doubts about the security of the new software. Another user even mistook the software transfer for a virus installation and planned to uninstall UltraAV, while a third user had already switched to Bitdefender, showing a lack of confidence in the replacement software.
Despite these apprehensions, Kaspersky has assured former customers that it collaborated closely with UltraAV to maintain security standards during the transition. The partnership between the two companies ensured that the switch of software on user systems took place on September 19, with the goal of preventing any gaps in protection for users following Kaspersky’s exit from the market.
For customers looking to remove the new antivirus software, some have shared step-by-step instructions online on how to do so. However, the effectiveness of these methods remains uncertain, with no guarantees that the newly downloaded software can be completely removed from users’ devices.
As Kaspersky continues to navigate the fallout from the ban imposed by the US government, the partnership with UltraAV represents a strategic move to ensure that its customers are still provided with the necessary cybersecurity protection. The controversy surrounding this transition highlights the challenges that companies face in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity regulations and threats.