Kaspersky Laboratory has responded to the ban on the use of its products in the United States by suggesting an independent check of its software to demonstrate the absence of hidden access opportunities by the Kremlin. The Russian anti-virus manufacturer, facing a ban, has stated its intention to comply with the US Department of Trade’s decision while also asserting that the ban imposed in June is politically motivated.
To allay the concerns of American authorities, the company has proposed a thorough evaluation of its operations, database updates, and threat detection protocols by an independent inspector. This proposal was outlined in a statement released by Kaspersky Laboratory on Thursday. The company has referred to its “Global Transparency” initiative, which was launched in 2017 following an earlier ban on its technology in US government systems.
The US Department of Homeland Security issued a directive prohibiting the use of Kaspersky Laboratory products on government networks, citing alleged ties between the developer and the Kremlin. In response, the company has offered to disclose its source code for examination by third parties to address these concerns.
Kaspersky Lab maintains that the decision made by the US Department of Trade is influenced by geopolitics rather than an evaluation of the company’s integrity, resulting in a denial of top-tier protection to American users and businesses. Additionally, the company has announced the suspension of new contract sales for its antivirus software and security products in the US until the ban is lifted on July 20. It was confirmed earlier this week that Kaspersky Lab is gradually scaling down its operations in the US, with a reduction of fewer than 50 positions.
The statement also indicates that the company will cease providing updates to antivirus signatures and the code base to American consumers and enterprises after September 29. However, informational and educational products and services, including Kaspersky Threat Intelligence, Kaspersky Cybersecurity Training, and various consulting services, such as SOC Consulting and Security Consulting, will still be available in the American market.
Moreover, Kaspersky Laboratory has announced that American clients will receive six months of free security updates as a gesture of farewell. The company remains committed to transparency and is willing to undergo independent scrutiny to address concerns raised by US authorities regarding its products.