Kaspersky’s unexpected departure from the U.S. market last week left many users in a state of confusion and concern. The cybersecurity company took the drastic step of removing its antivirus software from American computers, replacing it with UltraAV’s solution without prior warning. This sudden shift prompted a flurry of reactions from users who were caught off guard by the change.
One Reddit user expressed their shock, stating, “Yeah bro I didn’t even hear about the news regarding Kaspersky. I woke up and saw this new antivirus system on my desktop and I tried opening Kaspersky but it was gone. So I had to look up what happened because I was literally having a mini heart attack that my desktop somehow had a virus which uninstalled Kaspersky somehow. But I was relieved that Kaspersky had news regarding it but I don’t trust the new antivirus given. I switched to Bitdefender right away.”
Many Customers Missed Kaspersky UltraAV Notice
In hindsight, Kaspersky had indeed sent an email two weeks prior to the transition, notifying users of the impending change. However, the communication was less than clear, as it indicated that UltraAV would reach out with instructions on activating new accounts, leaving many unaware of the immediate switch that would take place.
This transition occurred just ten days before a U.S. ban on Kaspersky products and services, a decision made by the Biden Administration, and followed Kaspersky's announcement of winding down its operations. While Kaspersky did post a notice in its forums about the change, it came two days after the update, leaving many users in the dark.
UltraAV, owned by the Pango Group, also launched a webpage and FAQ section to address the transition. Pango Group is known for its portfolio of VPN and security solutions, as well as the Comparitech website.
Some Users Report Problems with UltraAV Software
As users began to navigate this unexpected change, some reported challenges with uninstalling the newly installed UltraAV software. While a few managed to remove it using the “uninstall programs” feature or by locating the uninstaller in the software's folder, others found the process to be more complicated.
The conversation quickly shifted to which antivirus product users would choose next. Given the unexpected installation of software they had not consented to, it is understandable that many are now exploring alternatives in the crowded cybersecurity market.