Customers in the US who have been using Kaspersky antivirus software are now seeing a change as the software has been replaced by UltraAV, another antivirus protection company. This switch came as a surprise to some users, even though Kaspersky claims that they had communicated this change via email. The reason behind this change goes back to a previous announcement made by Kaspersky in July about exiting the US market due to sanctions imposed by the Department of Commerce.
According to CNET, Kaspersky has partnered with UltraAV, a company owned by Pango Group, to ensure that US customers continue to have antivirus protection. The transition process has been communicated to eligible users through a series of emails from both Kaspersky and UltraAV. The companies are implementing the switch gradually to avoid any interruption in users’ protection.
UltraAV offers additional features such as a password manager, VPN, and identity theft protection along with antivirus software that can be used on multiple devices. However, it does not support iOS devices, although UltraVPN is available for iOS users. Despite the change, billing and fees will remain the same, and users will receive instructions on how to activate their new accounts.
In a comparison of features, UltraAV lacks webcam protection and online payment protection found in Kaspersky software. Instead, it offers real-time authentication alerts, high-risk transaction monitoring, and $1 million identity-theft insurance. Notifications about the transition were sent to users via email starting on Sept. 5, and additional notifications were available in the Kaspersky app and account pages.
For those still using Kaspersky software, the cutoff for support and updates is set for Sept. 30, according to UltraAV’s FAQ. This transition aims to provide a seamless switch for US users as Kaspersky exits the market and UltraAV steps in to continue providing antivirus protection.
