Despite a government ban, many American users continue to find ways to utilize Kaspersky anti-virus software. According to TechRadar, the Biden administration imposed a ban in July on the sale and use of Kaspersky, a Russian anti-virus program. Nonetheless, some users have managed to circumvent this restriction.
TechCrunch reports that the user community has developed various methods to bypass the ban, primarily by altering the software’s identification to suggest that the device is located outside the U.S. Common techniques include adding foreign servers to the update list and using VPNs to change virtual locations.
When questioned about their reasons for using Kaspersky, some users expressed skepticism regarding the U.S. government’s claims that the software collects user data. Others mentioned that they had purchased licenses before the ban and preferred not to forfeit their investment.
The Kaspersky ban is part of a broader initiative by the U.S. government to limit the use of foreign technology companies perceived as threats to national security. This strategy has previously targeted companies like Huawei and ZTE.
The persistence of users in employing Kaspersky highlights the challenges the U.S. government faces in regulating the use of foreign software.