The US has been vigilant with the type of apps, software, electronics, and even vehicles that are used within the country as they can pose risks to security. Just as TikTok's ban has been approved, the Biden administration also aims to ban Kaspersky.
Kaspersky US Ban
With all the antivirus software that is available for users, Kaspersky is among the most trusted and top-rated by testers. However, the US government believes that it may pose a risk to its users given that it was developed by the Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab.
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo believes that it can be a national risk as the Russian government can use the security software to install malware and even block other security updates, as well as "collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans."
With the upcoming ban, users will no longer be able to buy new software from Kaspersky around July 24th, which will be 30 days after the restrictions are scheduled to be implemented, which will also affect other products that use Kaspersky's software, as per Ars Technica.
Users who already bought the software can still download and even resell it, although the new updates will cease after 100 days. It's enough time for users and businesses to look for new security software before the antivirus is banned completely.
This was not a sudden move from the government as the software has been under national security probe for two years by the Department of Commerce. It has already been banned from US government agencies prior to the national ban.
"When you think about national security, you may think about guns and tanks and missiles," Raimondo expressed, "But the truth is, increasingly, it's about technology, and it's about dual-use technology, and it's about data."
CEO Eugene Kaspersky denied the allegations of having ties to the Russian government, saying that it was "BS brewed on political agenda." He added that the decision was not based on any technical assessment of the company's products.
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Chinese EVs Can Collect Data, White House Says
Even electric vehicles from China are not safe from the vigilant watch of the US government. President Joe Biden believes that Chinese-made EVs should be banned from being imported as they also pose security risks to the country.
Back in February, he said that China's policies could flood the US market with its vehicles and that he would not let it happen on his watch. It was also stated that it could "collect large amounts of sensitive data on their drivers and passengers," as per BBC.
US Senator Brown also said through X that they cannot allow China to "bring its government-backed cheating to the American auto industry." The security concern grows as the technological advancement in EVs allows for easier collection of data and monitoring.
The White House warned that electric cars can now connect to the internet, and they can regularly use their cameras and sensors to record detailed information on US infrastructure, and even be piloted and disabled remotely.
