Australia bans government use of Kaspersky software due to ‘unacceptable security risk’

Australia has become the latest country to ban government officials from using software made by Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, arguing that the software poses an “unacceptable security risk.” 

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs last week issued a directive that prohibits government agencies from installing Kaspersky products or web services on official systems and devices, citing national security risks. Government agencies have until April 1 to remove all existing instances of Kaspersky software on government systems and devices. 

“After considering threat and risk analysis, I have determined that the use of Kaspersky Lab products and web services… poses an unacceptable security risk to the government networks and data, arising from threats of foreign interference, espionage and sabotage,” Australia’s secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, Stephanie Foster, said in the directive. 

The move sees Australia become the latest member of the Five Eyes intelligence pact of countries to announce restrictions on Kaspersky software, joining Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

When reached for comment, Kaspersky spokesperson Stefan Rojacher said the company was “disappointed with the decision” and that the directive was issued “without any warning or opportunity for engagement” to address the Australian government’s concerns.

The U.S. in June 2024 announced a nationwide ban on Kaspersky software and urged Americans who use the software to switch to a different anti-malware provider. The Russian software maker said the following month that it would leave the country for good, saying its U.S. business was “no longer viable.”

Kaspersky also last year announced plans to shutter its U.K. business, telling TechCrunch in October that it would “commence a wind-down of the U.K. office operations, reorienting its business in the country toward the partner channel.” 

Updated with comment from Kaspersky.