In June of this year, the Kaspersky cybersecurity firm, led by Eugene Kaspersky, was banned by the Joe Biden administration, citing concerns over national security. Being of Russian origin, the company faced allegations of sharing intelligence with Kremlin entities. After careful consideration of the order, Kaspersky Lab has decided to bid farewell to all its American customers. As a gesture, they are offering free cybersecurity protection for six months until the end of this year.
In a heartfelt farewell letter addressing its departure from the American market, Kaspersky Lab expressed gratitude to its loyal users for their years of support. The company confirmed that all 42 employees involved in its US operations will be laid off with appropriate compensation. The process of winding down operations began on July 15, 2024, with a complete halt scheduled for August 4th.
The US Department of Commerce has set a deadline of September 30th, 2024, after which all sales and services of Kaspersky will be gradually phased out in America. Customers are advised to seek alternative antivirus solutions.
In departing, Kaspersky provided security recommendations to its users, advising them to regularly back up their data, avoid clicking on URL links from SMS and emails, and regularly update and strengthen their passwords with a combination of alphanumeric and special characters.
Despite assertions from Kaspersky that it operates independently of the Russian government and upholds user security, it has been associated with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Allegations linking the company to aiding Russian intelligence in the theft of classified information from US National Security Agency servers in 2017 have led to its ban in multiple countries, including Lithuania, the Netherlands, and now the United States.
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