In a significant shift within the cybersecurity landscape, Kaspersky, the well-known antivirus vendor, has initiated its withdrawal from the U.S. market, transitioning its existing users to UltraAV as of September 19, 2024. This move comes ahead of Kaspersky's official exit at the end of the month.
Transition Details
The company announced on September 21 that a software update was rolled out to facilitate this transition, ensuring that users would maintain continuous protection during the changeover. Kaspersky emphasized its collaboration with UltraAV to uphold security and privacy standards throughout the process.
Despite these assurances, some users have expressed concerns on Kaspersky's forums and Reddit, reporting that their Kaspersky software was automatically uninstalled and replaced by UltraAV without prior notification. In response to these concerns, UltraAV clarified in an FAQ that all Kaspersky users with valid email addresses were informed about the transition starting September 5. However, the communication did not clearly indicate that the software switch would occur automatically.
One user shared their surprise on Reddit, stating, "I was using Kaspersky, didn't realize they'd be shuffling us off to some rando [antivirus] in September. Nearly had a heart attack when I started my PC today and found a program I didn't download."
UltraAV, a U.S.-based company under the Pango Group umbrella, boasts a user base exceeding 25 million active users across its various brands, including popular VPN services like UltraVPN, OVPN, and VPN360.
Official Statement from UltraAV
In light of the recent developments, UltraAV provided a statement to The Hacker News, outlining the context of the transition. Following the Biden administration's announcement regarding Kaspersky's ban from selling or updating antivirus software in the U.S., an agreement was reached to automatically transition all U.S. Kaspersky customers to UltraAV. This proactive measure aims to ensure that users are not left vulnerable during the transition period.
UltraAV highlighted that Kaspersky began notifying U.S. customers about the transition on September 5, with communications sent directly to users and notifications available through in-app messages, MyKaspersky account pages, and Kaspersky's official website.
With over 20 years of development, UltraAV claims to offer mature technology that incorporates advanced threat intelligence and utilizes AI-driven techniques for malware detection. Users can expect comparable protection to what they received with Kaspersky, all while maintaining similar pricing. Additionally, UltraAV provides enhanced features, including identity theft protection, transaction monitoring, real-time fraud alerts, lost wallet protection, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance.
For those seeking further information regarding the transition, UltraAV encourages users to visit Ultrasecureav.com/faq or to reach out to their customer support team for assistance.