Space Travel News
CYBER WARS
US bans Russia's Kaspersky antivirus software
US bans Russia's Kaspersky antivirus software
by AFP Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) June 20, 2024

President Joe Biden's administration on Thursday banned Russia-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky from providing its popular antivirus products in the United States over national security concerns, the US Commerce Department said.

"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 agency said in a statement.

The announcement came after a lengthy investigation found Kaspersky's "continued operations in the United States presented a national security risk due to the Russian Government's offensive cyber capabilities and capacity to influence or direct Kaspersky's operations," it said.

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said "Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive US information."

Kaspersky, in a statement to AFP, said the Commerce Department "made its decision based on the present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns," and vowed to "pursue all legally available options to preserve its current operations and relationships."

"Kaspersky does not engage in activities which threaten US national security and, in fact, has made significant contributions with its reporting and protection from a variety of threat actors that targeted US interests and allies," the company said.

The move is the first such action taken since an executive order issued under Donald Trump's presidency gave the Commerce Department the power to investigate whether certain companies pose a national security risk.

Raimondo said the Commerce Department's actions demonstrated to America's adversaries that it would not hesitate to act when "their technology poses a risk to the United States and its citizens."

While Kaspersky is headquartered in Moscow, it has offices in 31 countries around the world, servicing more than 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients in more than 200 countries, the Commerce Department said.

As well as banning the sale of Kaspersky's antivirus software, the Commerce Department also added three entities linked to the firm to a list of companies deemed to be a national security concern, "for their cooperation with Russian military and intelligence authorities in support of the Russian government's cyber intelligence objectives."

The Commerce Department said it "strongly encouraged" users to switch to new vendors, although its decision does not ban them from using the software should they choose to do so.

Kaspersky is allowed to continue certain operations in the United States, including providing antivirus updates, until September 29 this year, "in order to minimize disruption to US consumers and businesses and to give them time to find suitable alternatives," it added.

Related Links
Cyberwar - Internet Security News - Systems and Policy Issues

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
CYBER WARS
UN raises alarm over AI-fuelled Holocaust denial and distortion
Paris (AFP) June 18, 2024
AI technology is helping to create false stories about World War II atrocities including Holocaust denial, risking an "explosive spread of anti-Semitism", the UN warned Tuesday. The UN's education and culture body UNESCO called for governments and tech companies to introduce ethical safeguards around AI technology, and for schools to spread the word about the risks of AI-generated content. UNESCO's report highlighted instances where hackers had rigged chatbots to spread Nazi ideology, and others ... read more

CYBER WARS
CYBER WARS
NASA Observes Mars Illuminated During Major Solar Storm

Water frost discovered on Mars' tallest volcanoes

Frost discovered on top of giant Mars volcanoes

New analysis suggests lack of subglacial lake on Mars

CYBER WARS
Chang'e-6 to Return with Farside Moon Samples

Intuitive Machines Achieves Lunar Landing with Sciaky EBAM Component

In new experiment, scientists record Earth's radio waves from the moon

NASA's Gateway space station Halo module moves closer to launch

CYBER WARS
Understanding Cyclones on Jupiter Through Oceanography

Unusual Ion May Influence Uranus and Neptune's Magnetic Fields

NASA's Europa Clipper Arrives in Florida for Launch Preparation

New Earth-Based Telescope Images of Jupiter's Moon Io Match Spacecraft Quality

CYBER WARS
Hydrothermal Vents on Ocean Worlds Could Support Life, UC Santa Cruz Study Finds

Discovery of Four Mini-Neptunes Around Red Dwarfs

Laser tests reveal new insights into key mineral for super-Earths

NASA and ESA explore habitability of exoplanets with Chandra and XMM-Newton

CYBER WARS
Boeing Starliner's return to Earth delayed again

China performs successful test towards reusable rocket goal

SpaceX finally launches communications satellite

Boeing Starliner return to Earth set for June 26

CYBER WARS
Hainan Launch Center Completes Construction for First Mission

Ten make the cut for China's fourth batch of astronauts

China announces first astronaut candidates from Hong Kong, Macau

China Open to Space Collaboration with the US

CYBER WARS
Humanity's climate impact like dinosaur-ending meteor: UN chief

Asteroid Dinkinesh Shows Complex History in Lucy Flyby

ESA Tests Guidance Systems for Hera Asteroid Mission

Asteroid Dinkinesh Has Dual Moons, Researchers Discover

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.