The Biden administration is gearing up to issue an order that would bar US companies and citizens from utilizing software developed by a major Russian cybersecurity firm due to national security concerns. This unprecedented move, expected to be finalized this month, would leverage new Commerce Department authorities established under executive orders signed by Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump to restrict Kaspersky Lab from offering certain products and services in the US.
While US government agencies are already prohibited from using Kaspersky Lab software, extending this restriction to private companies would mark a significant escalation. The Commerce Department has made an initial determination to block specific transactions between the Russian company and US individuals, with a primary focus on the firm's anti-virus software.
