US Bans Russian Kaspersky Software

The President Joe Biden administration on Thursday, 20th of June has announced plans to bar the sale of antivirus software made by Russia’s Kaspersky Lab in the United States.Moscow’s influence over the company was found to pose a significant risk, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on a briefing call with reporters on Thursday.The software’s privileged access to a computer’s systems could allow it to steal sensitive information from American computers or install malware and withhold critical updates, enhancing the threat, a source added.The moves show the Biden administration is trying to stamp out any risks of Russian cyberattacks stemming from Kaspersky software. It is also seen as effort to keep squeezing Moscow as its war effort in Ukraine has regained momentum and as the United States has run low on fresh sanctions it can impose on Russia, reports Reuters.It also shows the administration is harnessing a powerful new authority that allows it to ban or restrict transactions between U.S. firms and internet, telecom and tech companies from “foreign adversary” nations like Russia and China.US government agencies are already banned from using Kaspersky Lab software. But action to prevent private companies from using the software is unprecedented.US officials have for years alleged that the Russian government could force Kaspersky Lab to hand over data or use its anti-virus software to attempt to carry out surveillance of Americans.Kaspersky Lab has strenuously denied this accusations.