July 16, 2024 at 12:45AM
Russian security vendor Kaspersky is exiting the U.S. market due to a national security risk, following a ban announced by the Commerce Department. The company will cease U.S. operations on July 20, laying off fewer than 50 employees. The move is a response to U.S. legal requirements and concerns about the company’s ties to the Kremlin’s cyber capabilities.
Key takeaways from the meeting notes are:
– Kaspersky, a Russian security vendor, is exiting the U.S. market following a ban imposed by the Commerce Department citing national security risks.
– The company will wind down its U.S. operations on July 20, 2024, and lay off less than 50 employees in the country.
– The ban comes after a thorough investigation by the Commerce Department, which alleged that Kaspersky’s operations in the U.S. could pose cybersecurity risks and serve as a conduit for the Kremlin’s offensive cyber capabilities.
– Existing U.S. customers are advised to find alternative tech solutions ahead of September 29, by which Kaspersky is expected to stop providing software and antivirus updates in the U.S.
– Kaspersky has refuted the allegations, stating that it does not engage in activities that threaten U.S. national security and that the decision was made based on the “present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns.”