Kaspersky will close its division in the United States and lay off its staff, according to Zero Day. The end of its operations in the country will begin on July 20th, including employee layoffs. In June, the United States announced that it would ban the sale of Kaspersky products, a measure that has already been implemented. Initially, Kaspersky planned to fight against this ban in court, but it has not been confirmed if they still intend to do so after the latest layoff announcements.
“The company has carefully examined and evaluated the impact of legal requirements in the United States and has made this sad and difficult decision, as business opportunities in the country are no longer viable,” Kaspersky said in a statement obtained by Zero Day. Less than 50 employees will be affected by this liquidation and some have already received their compensations, although no details have been shared.
As an antimalware tool, Kaspersky software holds a prominent position on Windows computers. However, the United States government fears that there may be links between Kaspersky and the Russian government, which could facilitate data theft for the benefit of Russia, heavily sanctioned for its war in Ukraine.
The announced ban last month not only prohibits the sale of Kaspersky products, but also the download of updates, resale, and licenses. In addition, it will affect white-label products that integrate Kaspersky under different names, so those companies will have to find alternative cybersecurity solutions to maintain the security of their systems.
