U.S. Government Sanctions Kaspersky Executives for Cybersecurity Threats
In a recent press release, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against 12 executives and senior leaders of Kaspersky, a Russia-based cybersecurity giant. The move aims to protect internet users against malicious cyber threats and ensure the integrity of the cyber domain. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson, emphasized the commitment to holding accountable those who enable such activities.
The list of sanctioned individuals includes several Kaspersky board members, such as Andrei Anatolyevich Efremov, the chief business development officer, and Igor Gennadyevich Chekunov, the chief legal officer. Other high-ranking executives, including the global human resources chief, head of communications, and chief technology officer, were also sanctioned.
Notably, the sanctions target only the executives and leaders, sparing Kaspersky itself, its parent or subsidiary companies, and its founder and CEO, Eugene Kaspersky. The decision not to include Eugene Kaspersky in the sanctions raises questions about the reasoning behind this exemption.
The consequences of these sanctions are significant for the named executives. They will face challenges in starting a new company and will be effectively barred from receiving payments from American customers and businesses. This move follows similar sanctions imposed earlier this year on spyware maker Intellexa and its founder.
The sanctions coincide with the U.S. government’s announcement of a ban on the sale of Kaspersky software in the country. Effective from July 20, this ban allows existing customers to receive software updates until September 29. After that date, customers who continue to use Kaspersky will be unable to receive updates, potentially leaving them vulnerable to the latest cybersecurity threats.
Kaspersky expressed its intention to challenge the ban through its spokesperson, Sawyer VanHorn. This latest development comes after years of actions taken by the U.S. government against Kaspersky due to concerns about potential Russian government influence and the company’s ability to aid in hacking U.S. targets or compromising national security.
Overall, these sanctions and the accompanying ban on Kaspersky software highlight the ongoing efforts of the U.S. government to address cybersecurity threats and protect national interests.
