Kaspersky, a Russian cybersecurity company, has begun automatically deleting its anti-malware software from customers’ computers across the United States and replacing it with UltraAV’s antivirus solution. This unexpected move comes after Kaspersky decided to shut down its U.S. operations and lay off U.S.-based employees in response to its inclusion in a list of “foreign individuals, companies, and organizations deemed a national security concern” by the Biden administration in June. On June 20th, the Biden administration announced the ban on Russian-made cybersecurity software would take effect in the United States starting September 29, 2024, over potential national security risks.
In July, Kaspersky announced it would begin closing its U.S. business and laying off staff on July 20th because of the sales and distribution ban. In early September, Kaspersky informed customers that they would continue receiving “reliable cybersecurity protection” from UltraAV (owned by Pango Group) after Kaspersky stopped selling software and updates for U.S. customers. However, these communications did not clearly state that Kaspersky’s products would be abruptly deleted from users’ computers and replaced with UltraAV without prior warning.
According to reports, UltraAV’s software was installed on users’ computers without any prior notification, causing significant alarm among many who were concerned their devices had been infected with malware. “I woke up and saw this new antivirus system on my desktop and I tried opening Kaspersky but it was gone.
Kaspersky shifts U.S. strategy
So I had to look up what happened because I was literally having a mini heart attack that my desktop somehow had a virus which uninstalled Kaspersky,” one user reported. While some users were able to uninstall UltraAV using the software’s uninstaller, others experienced issues when trying to remove it using uninstall apps, adding to their concerns about potential malware infection. Users particularly affected had Kaspersky VPN subscriptions.
UltraAV, part of Pango Group which owns multiple VPN brands like Hotspot Shield, UltraVPN, and Betternet, assured users that UltraAV’s protection would be active on their devices following the transition. “On September 30th, 2024, Kaspersky will no longer be able to support or provide product updates to your service. This puts you at substantial risk for cybercrime,” stated UltraAV on their official website.
A Kaspersky employee shared on the company’s official forums regarding the switch to UltraAV: “Kaspersky has partnered with antivirus provider UltraAV to ensure continued protection for U.S.-based customers that will no longer have access to Kaspersky’s protections. This update ensured that users would not experience a gap in protection upon Kaspersky’s exit from the market.”
Kaspersky indicated that UltraAV offers similar features to its products and asked customers to review UltraAV’s website for detailed information or contact its support team for further assistance. A Kaspersky spokesperson was not immediately available for comment when contacted today.
