Beginning Thursday, Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky deleted its anti-malware software program from clients’ computer systems throughout america and mechanically changed it with UltraAV’s antivirus answer.
This comes after Kaspersky determined to close down its U.S. operations and lay off U.S.-based workers in response to the U.S. authorities including Kaspersky to the Entity Checklist, a catalog of “overseas people, firms, and organizations deemed a nationwide safety concern” in June.
On June 20, the Biden administration additionally introduced a ban on gross sales and software program updates for Kaspersky antivirus software program in america beginning September 29, 2024, over potential nationwide safety dangers.
In July, Kaspersky instructed BleepingComputer that it might start closing its enterprise and lay off the employees on July 20 due to the gross sales and distribution ban. In early September, Kaspersky additionally emailed clients, assuring them they might proceed receiving “dependable cybersecurity safety” from UltraAV (owned by Pango Group) after Kaspersky stopped promoting software program and updates for U.S. clients.
Nevertheless, these emails failed to tell customers that Kaspersky’s merchandise can be abruptly deleted from their computer systems and changed with UltraAV with out warning.
UltraAV force-installed on Kaspersky customers’ PCs
In keeping with many on-line buyer studies, together with BleepingComputer’s boards, UltraAV’s software program was put in on their computer systems with none prior notification, with many involved that their gadgets had been contaminated with malware.
“I awakened and noticed this new antivirus system on my desktop and I attempted opening kaspersky nevertheless it was gone. So I needed to lookup what occurred as a result of I used to be actually having a mini coronary heart assault that my desktop in some way had a virus which uninstalled kaspersky in some way,” one consumer mentioned.
To make issues worse, whereas some customers may uninstall UltraAV utilizing the software program’s uninstaller, those that tried eradicating it utilizing uninstall apps noticed it reinstalled after a reboot, inflicting additional considerations a couple of potential malware an infection.
Some additionally discovered UltraVPN put in, possible as a result of they’d a Kaspersky VPN subscription.
Not a lot is thought about UltraAV moreover being a part of Pango Group, which controls a number of VPN manufacturers (e.g., Hotspot Defend, UltraVPN, and Betternet) and Comparitech (a VPN software program evaluate web site).
“In case you are a paying Kaspersky buyer, when the transition is full UltraAV safety will probably be lively in your machine and it is possible for you to to leverage the entire further premium options,” UltraAV says on its official web site on a web page devoted to this compelled transition from Kaspersky’s software program.
“On September thirtieth, 2024 Kaspersky will now not have the ability to assist or present product updates to your service. This places you at substantial threat for cybercrime.”
A Kaspersky worker additionally shared an official assertion on the corporate’s official boards relating to the compelled swap to UltraAV, saying that it “partnered with antivirus supplier UltraAV to make sure continued safety for US-based clients that can now not have entry to Kaspersky’s protections.”
“Kaspersky has moreover partnered with UltraAV to make the transition to their product as seamless as doable, which is why on 9/19, U.S. Kaspersky antivirus clients obtained a software program replace facilitating the transition to UltraAV. This replace ensured that customers wouldn’t expertise a niche in safety upon Kaspersky’s exit from the market,” it added.
The corporate states that UltraAV has a comparable function set to its merchandise and requested clients to evaluate a FAQ web page on UltraAV’s web site or contact its assist group for extra info.
A Kaspersky spokesperson was not instantly out there for remark when contacted by BleepingComputer earlier in the present day.