In an unexpected turn of events, Kaspersky customers across the United States have found their antivirus software replaced overnight by a new solution known as UltraAV. This change follows the U.S. Department of Commerce's decision to prohibit Kaspersky from selling or updating specific antivirus products in the country, citing potential national security concerns.
Transition Details
The transition to UltraAV was executed through a software update on September 19, which automatically substituted Kaspersky’s antivirus software on users’ devices. The intent behind this update was to ensure that customers would not face any interruption in their security services as Kaspersky exits the market.
According to an official notice, “Kaspersky, in partnership with UltraAV, has worked to ensure that customers maintain the high standards of security and privacy they have come to expect. UltraAV offers comparable features, including industry-leading antivirus protection, premium VPN, password manager, and identity theft protection.”
However, the suddenness of this transition has left many users feeling unsettled. Reports have surfaced of individuals waking up to find Kaspersky completely removed from their systems, replaced by UltraAV and its associated services. One Reddit user expressed their bewilderment, stating, “Woke up to Kaspersky completely gone from my system with Ultra AV and Ultra VPN freshly installed (not by me, just automatically while I slept).”
Another user voiced their apprehension, saying, “Listen, Kaspersky employees, I need to remove this Ultra AV thing, no one notified me and its addresses look very suspicious.”
User Reactions
Kaspersky has acknowledged the transition to UltraAV, emphasizing their collaboration with the new provider to ensure a smooth experience for users. The company has reassured customers that UltraAV will deliver dependable antivirus protection under their existing subscriptions.
Despite these assurances, skepticism remains among some users regarding the transparency and established reputation of UltraAV. One individual remarked, “UltraAV? Never heard of it. I’m hesitant to use a product with no reviews or industry experience. Why would I trust it with my data?”
UltraAV, owned by Pango Group, has been actively acquiring VPN providers and boasts a portfolio of consumer cybersecurity solutions. Nevertheless, independent antivirus reviews and comparison sites offer limited information about UltraAV’s performance and reliability.
This transition impacts roughly 1 million Kaspersky users in the United States, who will now receive antivirus protection from UltraAV under their current subscriptions. Kaspersky has reiterated that users should not experience any lapse in protection and will continue to receive reliable antivirus services through UltraAV.