In a surprise move, cybersecurity giant Kaspersky has automatically replaced its antivirus software with a new program from UltraAV on U.S. users' computers, leaving many customers feeling frustrated and confused.
The sudden switch, which took place on September 19, sparked widespread discontent online. Users took to social media to express their dismay at the unexpected installation of UltraAV, as well as their dissatisfaction with the transition's handling. Some even questioned the legitimacy of the new antivirus software, wondering if it might be malware and seeking guidance on how to uninstall it.
Although the move came as a shock to many, Kaspersky had already announced its plans to withdraw from the U.S. market earlier this year. The Russian cybersecurity company was banned from operating in the country, prompting Kaspersky to inform U.S. customers that their cybersecurity protection would be provided by its U.S.-based partner UltraAV starting this month.
As part of the transition, Kaspersky notified customers on September 5 that they would receive communications from UltraAV with instructions on how to activate their new accounts. The company expressed confidence that users would enjoy the enhanced protection and features offered by UltraAV. However, some customers claim they never received this notification or the promised follow-up instructions.
This unexpected change has left approximately 1 million users forced to switch to new antivirus software overnight. For more information on this sudden move, visit https://t8tech.com.
In response to the recent controversy on Saturday, Kaspersky and UltraAV released a joint statement, outlining their objective of facilitating a seamless transition.
“Kaspersky and UltraAV worked in close collaboration to ensure that customers continued to receive the high standards of security and privacy they have come to expect from their service,” the statement read. “This update guaranteed that users would not experience any disruption in protection following Kaspersky’s withdrawal from the market.”
However, UltraAV is not an exact equivalent to Kaspersky. While UltraAV boasts several additional features that Kaspersky did not offer, such as alerting you when your social security number is used, monitoring “high-risk transactions” like password resets, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. On the other hand, unlike Kaspersky, UltraAV does not provide webcam or online payment protection, features that many customers will undoubtedly miss.
What prompted Kaspersky to uninstall antivirus software from U.S. computers?
Kaspersky is being forced to exit the U.S. market after the government prohibited it from providing its services to anyone within the country, citing national security concerns about the Russian cybersecurity giant. Although announced in June, the ban is set to take effect from Sept. 29 to allow customers time to find alternative antivirus solutions.
In a press release at the time, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) claimed that Kaspersky posed a risk to national security “due to the Russian Government’s offensive cyber capabilities and capacity to influence or direct Kaspersky’s operations.”
“[This risk] could not be addressed through mitigation measures short of a total prohibition,” the BIS wrote.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission had previously labelled Kaspersky an “unacceptable risk to national security” in 2022, while federal agencies were banned from using its antivirus software in 2017.
Kaspersky has persistently maintained that its prohibition in the U.S. is unconstitutional and driven by political motives, asserting that there is no substantiation of it being a national security risk. Nevertheless, it commenced the process of scaling back its U.S. operations on July 20, which included the termination of employees located in America.
In light of the apprehensions expressed by U.S. officials, the firm has proposed a comprehensive evaluation framework, which involves the assessment of its solutions, updates to its database, and the rules for threat detection by an unbiased trusted reviewer, as mentioned in a statement from July regarding the ban.
Kaspersky contends that the decision made by the U.S. Department of Commerce was influenced by the current geopolitical climate rather than a meticulous evaluation of the company’s offerings, thus denying U.S. users and businesses access to superior protection.
Kaspersky’s position mirrors the arguments put forth by TikTok in response to its own U.S. ban. The U.S. government has similarly accused TikTok of endangering national security, claiming that the widely-used video-sharing platform is governed by a “foreign adversary” due to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. TikTok is presently challenging its prominent ban in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, where it aspires to secure a more favorable resolution than Kaspersky.
