In June 2024, the Biden administration announced that the download, update, license and resale of Kaspersky software would be prohibited from July 20, 2024.
The justification was only because Kaspersky has its registered office in Moscow, the Russian government could force the company to give access to its systems and to disrupt all the computers on which it is installed.
Kaspersky has often denied having bonds with the Russian government, but the United States has determined that it is just not good enough.
What does that mean for me?
Kaspersky was a familiar name for antivirus in the United States, with a pre-banque market share of around 35%.
After Ban Kaspersky has unloaded its customers, the Pango group, which quickly installed Ultraav as a replacement service which caused a fairly large praise.
If you used Kaspersky antivirus, you were asked if you wanted to go to Ultraav. However, none of the main antivirus test laboratories published scores for ultraav, and customer comments and online publications suggest that the software is far from ideal.
Those who have chosen to give up the Ultraav update will have been left to continue using Kaspersky – and if that includes you – your device is very at risk.
Am I at risk if I use Kaspersky?
Yes. The ban has prohibited new updates from Kaspersky software, which means that the software will not be able to protect against new malware or threats that have emerged since the ban in June 2024.
Antivirus suppliers publish frequent updates to their software to keep your device protected against existing malware, as well as “0 day” exploits or fresh vulnerabilities that are actively exploited. Without these updates, the devices can succumb to the infection and the attacks against which other devices would be protected.
As an additional concern, if you have used Kaspersky on a Windows device, it is likely that Windows Defender Antivirus has been put in passive mode, preventing it from offering its complete level of protection. If you used Kaspersky, or I am still, I strongly recommend that you check if your Windows Defender antivirus is still in passive mode and switch it as active.
What should I do?
First, check if your device makes default antivirus is updated and activated.
Now that you have a certain level of protection, think if you are considering enough default protection.
For many devices, the default antivirus program will offer a fairly decent level of protection against malware, but will miss many other security tools that have almost become a necessity in the digital world.
Take a look at my complete guide on the best antivirus and take a look through the features which, in your opinion.
Many services include a VPN to help encrypt your internet traffic at the head of your device at its destination, preventing crooks from intercepting it in transit.
Others will have a parental control application that will help you prevent adult content from being viewed on your children’s devices, as well as fixing screen limits to help them focus on their duties or tasks.
Password managers are also a very practical tool to help keep your accounts online online. If you do not use an Authenticator application, your account is as secure as your password. The antivirus alone will prevent a hacker from guessing your username and password.
Do I have to worry about the antivirus in 2025?
As an expert in safety, my answer is 100% yes. I have seen from the first hand at what speed the new threats and vulnerabilities can emerge, and the damage they can not only on the devices but also the means of subsistence.
If an attacker has access to your computer files, he can potentially steal sensitive files and data that can help them commit identity theft or credit fraud. Even if you don’t want to splash on a high -end service, you can always turn to the best free antivirus to provide a good level of protection to all your devices.
