Transition to UltraAV
Kaspersky Lab has recently made a surprising pivot regarding its antivirus offerings for customers in the United States, following a ban imposed by the Biden Administration. In a move that has raised eyebrows across the tech community, the Russian cybersecurity firm is transitioning its US customers to a new product called UltraAV, a security solution that remains largely unrecognized within the industry.
As Kaspersky prepares to wind down its operations in the US by September 30, a number of customers have already begun experiencing the shift to UltraAV. This alternative product, touted by its creators as providing “industry-leading protection” against a variety of security threats, claims to support up to 20 devices for comprehensive family-wide anti-malware coverage. However, the lack of familiarity with UltraAV has left many users in a state of uncertainty.
UltraAV is owned by Pango, a company that has maintained a working relationship with Kaspersky. Recently, Pango was acquired by Aura, which has further complicated the narrative surrounding the new antivirus solution. While Kaspersky previously licensed one of its products to Pango, it is anticipated that UltraAV will not incorporate any Russian code, marking a significant departure from Kaspersky’s traditional offerings.
According to statements made to The Register, UltraAV’s antivirus engine is based on technology developed by Max Secure Software, an Indian security firm. The engine is spearheaded by Dr. Zulfikar Ramzan, an employee of Aura who holds a PhD in computer science from MIT and has a notable background as the former Chief Technology Officer at RSA.
Despite these credentials, the main concern surrounding UltraAV is the lack of transparency and recognition within the cybersecurity landscape. An anonymous source from the antivirus community expressed skepticism, stating, “We’ve a very close-knit community in the AV business, so having a complete unknown is really unusual.”
Adding to the uncertainty, UltraAV has opted out of participating in established trade organizations such as the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO). Traditionally, security software developers submit their products for independent evaluation by third-party testers, yet UltraAV’s software has yet to be subjected to such scrutiny.
Initial assessments from various antivirus laboratories indicate that UltraAV’s performance may require enhancements in both protection capabilities and user experience. Nonetheless, Pango has announced plans for a third-party evaluation scheduled for later this year, which may provide further clarity for consumers.
As Kaspersky customers navigate this unexpected transition, they now face a critical decision: to embrace the unknown with UltraAV or to seek out alternative antivirus solutions with a more established track record in the market.
