The US government has banned sales of Kaspersky security products in the United States. Kaspersky’s credibility with the US government has been in decline for years. As far back as 2017, the Department of Homeland Security directed federal agencies to stop using Kaspersky. Almost five years ago, the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council enacted a policy forbidding federal agencies to purchase Kaspersky products. Even bug bounty clearinghouse HackerOne, a one-time Kaspersky partner, cut ties with Kaspersky in 2022. Also, in 2022, we at PCMag stopped recommending Kaspersky’s products, though we continued to evaluate their efficacy. Well, that era is over. You shouldn’t buy Kaspersky products now. In fact, you can’t.
What if you already made that purchase? If you bought a Kaspersky product within the last 30 days, you can return it for a full refund. If not, there’s no benefit to cancelling, because Kaspersky doesn’t offer prorated refunds. Kaspersky has necessarily turned off auto-renewal for all US customers. Your product will continue to function until the subscription runs out, with some limitations as described below.
How Did We Get Here?
For more than seven years, Kaspersky has been taking flak from intelligence agencies in the US and elsewhere. The kerfuffle only escalated with the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Yet at the same time, Kaspersky’s researchers have played a major part in defense against the newest malware attacks. The chart below sums up a collection of Kaspersky events over the years, both positive and negative.
Can You Keep Using Kaspersky?
As noted, the US government recently banned the sale, resale, or licensing of Kaspersky products in the US, or by US citizens. Right now if you try to buy a Kaspersky security suite on Amazon, you’ll find it’s marked “Currently unavailable.” Government agencies were already enjoined from buying Kaspersky; the new ban extends to companies and individuals—everyone.
If you already rely on a Kaspersky antivirus, security suite, VPN, or other product, you’re not going to get in trouble simply for using it. The FBI won’t break down your door just because Kaspersky is installed on your computer. But you’d be smart to consider switching as soon as feasible. On September 29, 2024, a second phase of the ban goes into effect, further prohibiting any renewals, resales, or updates to Kaspersky products. You know those antivirus updates that come in frequently to keep your antivirus armed against the latest threats? Those will stop, and your protection will steadily erode.
What Should You Use Instead of Kaspersky?
Given the impending end of updates, existing Kaspersky users should start looking at alternatives. We’ve recognized Bitdefender Antivirus Plus and Norton AntiVirus Plus as Editors’ Choice winners among antivirus apps. Either is a fine replacement for a Kaspersky antivirus tool.
Kaspersky Secure Connection was never a favorite in the VPN realm, earning 3.5 stars when last tested. If you’re using it, consider switching to Editors’ Choice winner Proton VPN, which boasts a rare 5-star rating. Or pick one of the other high-ranked apps from our list of the best VPNs.
Security suites come in a range of sizes, from simple entry-level protection to massive, feature-laden mega-suites. Kaspersky’s primary product line includes Standard, Plus, and Premium suites. Our Editors’ Choice winner for a standard suite is Bitdefender Internet Security, which comes with an array of features greater than most competitors. Also an award winner and with even more features, Bitdefender Total Security is a top-tier Editors’ Choice suite.
When you need to protect more than just your Windows devices, consider Norton 360 Deluxe. This suite excels on Windows and macOS but also offers effective apps for Android and iOS. While you’re deciding where you’ll land for protection, think about whether you want to rope in identity theft protection along with your suite. If you do, Norton 360 With LifeLock is our Editors’ Choice winner.
If you’re using Kaspersky Password Manager, termination of updates isn’t as much of a big deal. There's no equivalent to the signature updates that are so critical for an antivirus. However, you should still consider switching to a better password manager when it’s convenient. While Kaspersky’s password manager is inexpensive, PCMag rates it merely good—three stars. You’re better off with Editors’ Choice Bitwarden, which is free, or four-star competitor NordPass.
As for Kaspersky Safe Kids, it does everything a parental control service should, and it’s inexpensive. But PCMag isn’t recommending third-party parental control systems at present. Rather, we suggest you take a good look at the parental control features of your operating system.
Farewell, Kaspersky
There’s no doubt that Kaspersky’s founding in 1997 took place in Russia, nor that its cofounder and CEO Eugene (???????) Kaspersky is a Russian national. The company maintains a headquarters division in Moscow. But is the modern Kaspersky a “Russian company?” While it won’t win any “made in America” awards, it operates in well over 100 countries and keeps its main data processing infrastructure in Switzerland. You could argue the point either way.
That argument is moot, however, because the US government has flagged Kaspersky as a security risk and banned the sale of its products. Excellent scores from antivirus testing labs around the world don’t mean squat when the product in question is unavailable.
If at some point Kaspersky and the US intelligence agencies kiss and make up, and if Kaspersky products once more become available for sale, we will put them to the test and report our results, just as we do with other security products. For now, though, it’s goodbye to Kaspersky.