Kaspersky lays off dozens of employees, closes US operations

Russian antivirus giant Kaspersky has laid off dozens of employees and closed its operations after the United States banned the sale and use of the software on its soil, citing security risks.

Kaspersky announced a “phased out” of its activities in the US that will begin on July 20, coinciding with the ban’s entry into force.

Due to the restrictions, the company considers its US business “no longer viable.”

Kaspersky first denied the ban, stating that it “is not involved in activities that threaten US national security.

The company vowed to pursue all legal options” in order to continue operating.

However, due to facing a tough struggle, they chose to retreat.

Last month, US authorities said Kaspersky antivirus software would no longer be sold across the country and asked users to switch to alternative providers.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security announced that it had implemented a “first-of-its-kind” ban, claiming that Kaspersky’s base in Russia compromised consumer privacy and national security.

“Russia has demonstrated that it has the capacity, and even more so, the intent, to exploit Russian companies like Kaspersky to collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans.

“And that’s why we were forced to take the actions we took today,” US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a call with reporters.

According to Raimondo, Kaspersky will be banned from selling its software to American consumers and businesses starting July 20, after which the company will no longer be allowed to push software updates to US customers.

“That means your software and services will be degraded. That’s why I strongly recommend you look for alternatives to Kaspersky immediately,” Raimondo said.

Kaspersky lays off dozens, to close US operations first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.