Russian cyber firm Kaspersky to shut down US operations after ban

Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky will “gradually wind down” its US operations and lay off the company’s US-based employees after the US Department of Commerce announced a ban on the firm selling its products in the US, Kaspersky said in a statement to CNN on Monday.

Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab will “gradually wind down” its US operations and lay off its US-based employees after the Department of Commerce announced a ban on the firm selling its products in the United States, Kaspersky said Monday. The shutdown of Kaspersky Lab’s US operations will start on July 20, ending nearly two decades of the company operating in the country, according to the company’s statement. “The company has carefully examined and evaluated the impact of the US legal requirements and made this sad and difficult decision as business opportunities in the country are no longer viable,” Kaspersky Lab said. Independent journalist Kim Zetter first reported the news of the company’s shutdown. The Commerce Department last month announced the ban of the sale and provision of Kaspersky software in the United States, citing national security concerns. US officials have claimed that the Russian government could use Kaspersky’s popular anti-virus software to surveil Americans through hacking or data collection. Kaspersky has strenuously denied those claims. More than 400 million people and 240,000 companies worldwide use Kaspersky Lab’s software products, according to the company. Just how many of those people and companies are in the United States is not clear.