Before the total US government ban on all Kaspersky product sales and renewals, the company enjoyed decades as the leading antivirus software provider used by millions around the world. As of 2022, Kaspersky is banned in the US and numerous other countries because it is owned by a Russian company known for its cooperation with the FSB (Federal Security Service) and user data leakage straight to the Kremlin. The complete ban was also fueled by the Russian army’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine.

So, although some Kaspersky antivirus security features, like virus scans and protection, might still be great, the fact that the user data is likely funneled straight to the Russian government makes it very unsafe to use.

Due to the current situation in the US, with the total Kaspersky Anti-Virus ban and the Russian government’s unlawful actions towards Ukraine, I cannot recommend using Kaspersky as it is unsafe and will put your data at risk. Keep reading this article to learn why exactly Kaspersky was banned and what to replace it with.

Kaspersky antivirus overview

Stay safe with TotalAV

Is Kaspersky safe?

I don’t recommend using Kaspersky Anti-Virus because there might be security issues related to its ties to the Russian government and Secret Services (FSB). The company was banned in the US primarily due to these security concerns, and by September 29, 2024, Kaspersky ceased all its operations, including sales and updates of the software, in the country.

Fears that Kaspersky might be exploiting its users’ data began as early as 2017. Back then, the US government made allegations accusing Kaspersky of cooperating with the Russian government and the potential use of the software to hack US government pages to steal sensitive information. As of 2022, these concerns were amplified by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leading the US Federal Communications Commission to place Kaspersky on the list of companies posing a threat to US national security.

In 2023, AV-Comparatives rated Kaspersky as one of the best antivirus software, giving it a score of 99.6% in protection effectiveness. However, even if that were true, the fact that Kaspersky Labs collaborates with the Kremlin makes it a profoundly unreliable company. Instead of Kaspersky Anti-Virus, I recommend choosing TotalAV, as it is a well-trusted UK-based antivirus software company that does not exploit its users’ data and does not put it at any risk. Plus, TotalAV has even better threat protection, with the latest AV-Comparatives testing putting at 99.94% effectiveness in online protection.

Why was Kaspersky banned?

While the 2022 Kaspersky US ban was unprecedented in its scale, it wasn’t the first time the US government took action against the company. In fact, it all started in 2017 when the Department of Homeland Security issued a binding operational directive that made the removal of all Kaspersky-branded products from federal information systems mandatory. Then, in 2018, Kaspersky was prohibited to be used on any US federal government systems. And lastly, in 2022, all Kaspersky products were banned from nationwide US use. Here are the reasons why Kaspersky was deemed as a risk to US national security:

• Because Kaspersky is the subject of Russian Government jurisdiction, it must comply with its requests for information. Simply put, it allows the Russian Government to obtain potentially sensitive information through Kaspersky.
• Kaspersky may be able to access sensitive US customer information through the features of the cybersecurity and antivirus software. This could possible be done via the software’s administrative privileges.
• Because it’s an antivirus software, it can also be used to install malicious software. This can leave US customers vulnerable to malware and exploitation.
• Because of Kaspersky’s compatibility and integration with other products, there’s an increased likelihood that Kaspersky could be installed into devices and networks containing sensitive US customer information.

To put it bluntly, the Kaspersky antivirus software that should be protecting you, can be used against you. The program’s administrative rights and the features themselves can easily allow the company to obtain sensitive information or to install malware onto your devices. Bearing that in mind, it is very easy to understand why Kaspersky was deemed as a risk to US national security and banned nation-wide.

However, while uninstalling Kaspersky immediately might seem like an obvious thing to do now, you’d be surprised that up until September 29th, 2024, 27% of US Technology sector and 4% of Government and Politics sector were still using Kaspersky products. Hopefully, after the full ban, none of these sectors are putting US security at risk any longer.

Kaspersky recent incidents that raise serious concerns

In early September 2024, Kaspersky contacted its customers via emails that despite the ban, they will still receive reliable cybersecurity from UltraAV. UltraAV is a product owned by Pango Group, known for its Hotspot Shield, Betternet, UltraVPN and a lot of other cybersecurity products. While this change might’ve seemed like a good idea security-wise, the emails sent by Kaspersky failed to mention that their products will be abruptly deleted from customers’ devices and replaced with UltraAV without any notice.

Beside he force installation, it was even weirder that some users were unable to install UltraAV once it was on their devices as it kept installing by itself after rebooting the device. Naturally, this fuelled malware infection suspicions. Even an official statement from Kaspersky on the company’s forum stating that “[Kaspersky] partnered with antivirus provider UltraAV to ensure continued protection for US-based customers that will no longer have access to Kaspersky’s protections” couldn’t alleviate my mistrust of the whole situation.

Although Kaspersky has consistently denied any of the espionage allegations made by the US and European governments, the geopolitical context made it very hard to trust this company and its software.

What should you look for when it comes to online protection?

When looking for online protection and cybersecurity solutions, you should always look for comprehensive packages. And while the word comprehensive is often overused in marketing space, the real meaning of it is well-rounded protection of your devices, identity, and privacy. So, you should always look for these features when choosing an online protection service:

• Reliable virus and malware protection. This is the building block of all antivirus software and its main purpose. A good software should have at least 90% detection rate while an excellent one should deliver around 99%. This is also where all the trust in Kaspersky crumbles, as the software itself can be easily used to plant malware onto your device.
• Identity theft protection. Identity theft is a very real risk these days, when a lot (if not all) of your sensitive information can be found online. A good identity protection package should include safe banking features, dark web monitoring, and a solid reimbursed if a breach were to happen. In Kaspersky’s case, the whole idea of identity protection burns down, as we now know that the company, being a subject of the Russian jurisdiction, must share its users data with the government upon request.
• Privacy protection. Privacy protection should include a robust VPN service to thoroughly ensure your privacy while you’re online. However, in Kaspersky’s case, the VPN is barely functioning and doing close to nothing to actually protect your privacy. In fact, a VPN can be used against you, by tracking your real location and your network activities.

You can easily find this comprehensive security plan in TotalAV packages. It’s a highly reliable UK-based company with years of experience in the field and I highly recommend choosing it instead of the dubious Kaspersky.

Overview of the best antivirus and Kaspersky antivirus features

Kaspersky Anti-Virus comes with a lot of features to make it a seemingly well-rounded and legitimate software. It includes Real-Time Protection, Anti-Phishing, Two-way Firewall Protection, a VPN, Identity Theft Protection, and System Optimization Tools among many others. Although this might seem like a great feature set at a first glance, the fact that Kaspersky has been proven to collaborate with the Russian government and the Secret Services (FSB) in sharing their user data, it makes all of these software features potentially dangerous to use. So, I do not recommend using any Kaspersky products under any circumstances.

Instead, take a look at the feature set of TotalAV and how it compares to the features of Kaspersky. Not only TotalAV is a well-regarded name in the industry, it offers even more security-oriented features than Kaspersky and operates at the highest possible rate of malware detection.

Here’s how TotalAV and Kaspersky stand when compared side-by-side:

As you can see, the feature sets of ToalAV and Kaspersky are very similar with TotalAV offering better versions of the same features in some cases. Plus, unlike Kaspersky, TotalAV is well-trusted company that does not abuse its user data.

How to cancel Kaspersky subscription and switch to TotalAV

Here’s my step-by-step guide how to first cancel Kaspersky subscription and then install and activate TotalAV.

Part 1 – cancelling Kaspersky subscription:

1. Log into your Kaspersky account. Go to My Kaspersky page and sign in using your email and password.
2. Look for subscription settings. Once logged in, click on your profile and find Subscriptions in the dropdown menu.
3. Locate your subscription. In the Subscriptions field, you’ll see a list of your active Kaspersky products. You’ll have to cancel each of these subscriptions separately.
4. Click on Manage Subscription and look for auto-renewal setting. Toggle it off to ensure that Kaspersky will not automatically charge you for the next period.
5. Cancel through your payment method provider. This step is only necessary if you subscribed via a third-party service like PayPal, the Apple App Store, or Google Play. If yes, go to the platform you first subscribed to Kaspersky, find Subscriptions there, and cancel Kaspersky.
6. Wait for confirmation email. If you’ve unsubscribed successfully, you should receive a confirmation email. My advice is to keep it for your records.

Part 2 – installing and activating TotalAV

1. Uninstall Kaspersky. Before downloading the TotalAV software, uninstall Kaspersky. On Windows, go to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstal a Program, find Kaspersky and follow steps to uninstall. On Mac, you can use the Kaspersky Removal Tool.
2. Purchase TotalAV. Go to the TotalAV website and choose the plan that suits you best. 
3. Download the TotalAV setup file and install the software.
4. Create and account and log into the TotalAV app with your new or existing credentials.
5. Check your system security. After switching to TotalAV, run a full system scan to ensure your device is secure and no remnants of Kaspersky malware are left.

Get best Kaspersky alternative: TotalAV

Conclusion

Not too long ago Kaspersky was famous for its capable antivirus software and simple to use products. That is, until it became clear that Kaspersky is collaborating with the Russian Government and its Secret Services by sharing its user data upon request. This prompted a total US-wide ban of all Kaspersky products in 2022, which came fully into effect on September 29th, 2024. And while Kaspersky can still be used in some countries around the world, I still cannot recommend using it as your data might be going straight to the Kremlin and your devices may be at risk of malware implantation.

The best alternative to Kaspersky Anti-Virus in the US is TotalAV. This well-reputed UK-based company has decades of experience in the field and constantly provides top-notch performance in threat and malware detection. TotalAV comes with robust security essentials package including Real-Time Protection, Phishing Protection, highly-effective System Scans, and even a secure VPN. Plus, it’s even cheaper than Kaspersky, so why not put your cybersecurity into trustworthy hands instead.

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FAQ

Who owns Kaspersky?

Kaspersky is owned by a Russian company called Kaspersky Labs. The company’s ties to the Russian Government and its Secret Service (FSB) is what make Kaspersky unreliable and potentially dangerous.

Can Kaspersky be trusted?

No, Kaspersky cannot be trusted. The potential ties of Kaspersky with the Russian Government and FSB make this company highly untrustworthy as it may be sharing its user data directly with the Kremlin. Additionally, the antivirus software itself can be used to spy on its users.

Should I uninstall Kaspersky?

Yes, you should uninstall Kaspersky Anti-Virus immediately as it is deemed unsafe to use. Kaspersky is tied with the Russian government and its secret service and potentially shares user data with these entities. Additionally, the recent US government ban on all Kaspersky sales and software updates made this antivirus unsafe to use as it won’t recognize any new viruses or threats.

What is the best alternative for Kaspersky?

The best replacement for Kaspersky Anti-Virus is TotalAV. The software comes from a trusted UK-based company and offers the same core security features as Kaspersky Anti-Virus. Plus, the pricing is better and there’s also a solid VPN included in the package.