Due to US ban: Kaspersky customers receive UltraAV from Pango

In June of this year, the US government effectively banned Kaspersky. The company announced its withdrawal from the USA in mid-July as it no longer saw a viable business basis. Customers in the USA are now being offered the opportunity to switch to UltraAV from the Pango Group before updates for Kaspersky antivirus software can no longer be distributed at the end of September.

According to media reports, this will affect millions of customers. When asked by heise online, Kaspersky confirmed the reports. An agreement has been reached with the Pango Group, which is to provide users of the consumer products with cybersecurity protection. "As a result of the agreement between Kaspersky and Pango, customers with consumer products in the United States will continue to receive reliable antivirus protection with their existing subscription," explained a company spokeswoman.

Replacement software from Pango similarly comprehensive

The "UltraAV" replacement solution will also include features such as VPN, password manager and identity theft protection. "Details of the transition process will be communicated directly with Kaspersky's US customers," the spokesperson added. In response to the comment that Pango's antivirus is virtually unknown, she replied: "Yes, it's safe. UltraAV delivers industry-leading protection against all types of malware and threats". She added: "The safety of our users has always been our top priority, and the current situation is no exception. While US customers have to make do with one less choice for their self-protection against online threats, we feel it is our duty to ensure they are served by a 'world-class provider'."

The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) issued a warning against Kaspersky products in 2022. This warning is still valid, the authority confirmed to heise Security at the end of June. We therefore asked the Kaspersky spokesperson whether the company was pursuing similar plans in Germany or the EU.

The company spokesperson said: "No. Kaspersky's business operations remain stable, and our key priorities remain the same – to protect our customers in all countries from cyber threats. Millions of customers in Germany and the EU continue to choose and use our products." "Furthermore, it is our view that the BSI warning is not based on a technical assessment of Kaspersky products, but is instead based on political reasons. We will continue to convince our partners and customers of the quality and integrity of our products," the spokesperson concludes the statement.

(dmk)