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Australia Bans Government Use of Kaspersky Software Due to ‘Unacceptable Security Risk’
In a move to strengthen national security, the Australian government has banned the use of software made by Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky across all government agencies and departments. The decision was made after considering threat and risk analysis, which revealed that the use of Kaspersky products poses an “unacceptable security risk” to government networks and data.
According to a directive issued by the Department of Home Affairs, all existing instances of Kaspersky software on government systems and devices must be removed by April 1. This ban is part of Australia’s efforts to protect its digital infrastructure from potential foreign interference, espionage, and sabotage.
Australia joins Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States as a member of the Five Eyes intelligence pact to restrict the use of Kaspersky software. In June last year, the U.S. government announced a nationwide ban on Kaspersky software and advised American citizens who are using the software to switch to alternative anti-malware providers.
In response to the ban, Kaspersky has made some significant changes in its business strategy. The company had already been struggling with the restrictions imposed by other countries, which led it to announce plans to shut down its U.S. operations last year and reorient its business in the country towards the partner channel. Similarly, Kaspersky also announced that it would wind down its UK office operations and shift its focus on the partner channel.
The Australian government’s decision follows a trend of caution against Russian cybersecurity firms, which has been growing globally since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
