If you use antivirus software from Kaspersky in the US, it will be removed and replaced with antivirus protection from another company, UltraAV. The Moscow-based cybersecurity company says the switch was communicated to customers by email, but it apparently still takes some by surprise, according to sites like The Hacker News and TechCrunch.
The reason for the move goes back to an announcement by Kaspersky in July that it would exit the U.S. market due to Commerce Department sanctions on the company banning its software.
In a statement to CNET, Kaspersky said it is working with UltraAV, a company owned by Pango Group, a holding company based in Burlington, Massachusetts, to protect US customers.
“Information about the transition has been communicated to all US users eligible for the replacement in a series of email communications by Kaspersky and UltraAV,” the company said in a statement. “Kaspersky and UltraAV are implementing the transition in waves to ensure that the process runs smoothly and that users will not experience a gap in their protection if Kaspersky leaves the market.”
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A web page provides detailed information about the transition and the UltraAV product. The company is welcoming users to the software, which it says includes a password manager, VPN, and identity theft protection. The antivirus software can be used on up to 20 devices, but that doesn’t include iOS devices. However, the company does offer UltraVPN software for iOS.
UltraAV says billing and fees will not change and users will receive instructions on how to activate their new accounts.
In a feature comparison chart, UltraAV says it lacks Kaspersky’s webcam protection and online payment protection features, but it does have real-time authentication alerts, high-risk transaction monitoring and $1 million identity theft insurance, features missing from the Kaspersky software. UltraAV says that starting September 5, customers started receiving notifications about the transition via email, and there were also notifications in the Kaspersky app and account pages.
According to UltraAV’s FAQ, the deadline for Kaspersky support or updates is September 30.
