Biden To Ban U.S. Sales Of Kaspersky Software Over Russia Ties

The Biden administration is set to announce plans to bar the sale of Kaspersky Lab's antivirus software in the US, a person familiar with the matter said, citing the firm's large US customers, including critical infrastructure providers and state and local governments, Alexandra Alper reported for Reuters.

Kaspersky insists that it is a privately managed company with no ties to the Russian government. I Photo: Kaspersky Philippines

The company's close ties to the Russian government were found to pose a critical risk, the person said, adding that the software's privileged access to a computer's systems could allow it to steal sensitive information from American computers, install malware, or withhold critical updates.

The sweeping new rule, using broad powers created by the Trump administration, will be coupled with another move to add the company to a trade restriction list, according to two other people familiar with the matter, dealing a blow to the firm's reputation that could hammer its overseas sales.

The plan to add the cybersecurity company to the entity list, which effectively bars a company's US suppliers from selling to it, and the timing and details of the software sales prohibition, have not been previously reported.

Kaspersky said previously that it is a privately managed company with no ties to the Russian government.

The moves show the administration is trying to stamp out any risks of Russian cyberattacks stemming from Kaspersky software and keep squeezing Moscow as its war effort in Ukraine has regained momentum.

The US has run low on fresh sanctions it can impose on Russia, Christopher Bing, Raphael Satter, and Karen Freifeld also reported for Reuters.