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Australia Bans Government Use of Kaspersky Software Due to ‘Unacceptable Security Risk’
The Australian government has announced a ban on the use of software from Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky by its agencies, citing an “unacceptable security risk” due to potential threats of foreign interference, espionage, and sabotage.
According to reports, the Department of Home Affairs issued a directive last week prohibiting government officials from installing Kaspersky products or web services on official systems and devices. The ban is effective immediately, with government agencies required to remove all existing instances of Kaspersky software on their systems and devices by April 1st.
The decision follows similar moves by other countries in the Five Eyes intelligence pact, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which have also restricted or banned the use of Kaspersky software due to national security concerns. The U.S., for instance, announced a nationwide ban on Kaspersky software in June 2024.
The Russian company has faced scrutiny in recent years over concerns about its potential ties to the Kremlin and the risk it poses to government networks and data. Kaspersky has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintained that its products are not designed to pose a security threat.
Despite the ban, the Australian government’s decision to prohibit the use of Kaspersky software comes amid growing concerns about foreign interference in national cybersecurity systems.
