Google Play has quietly removed all Kaspersky security products from its app store, citing the White House’s ban on the Russian antivirus provider.
Google today confirmed it had removed the Kaspersky apps for US and international users, explaining: "The US’s Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security recently announced a variety of restrictions on Kaspersky. As a result, we have removed Kaspersky's apps from Google Play.”
As BleepingComputer reports, users noticed the removal last week, right before the ban took effect. Kaspersky now says Google also terminated its developer account for Google Play Store.
"Although these [US] restrictions have no material legal effect outside the US, Google unilaterally decided to remove our products from Google Play ahead of September 29, depriving worldwide users of access to Kaspersky solutions,” the antivirus provider tells PCMag.
In response, Kaspersky accuses Google of “overinterpreting” the US restrictions without specific guidance from federal officials.
“These restrictive measures do not prohibit the sale or distribution of Kaspersky products and services outside the country,” the company added. “Kaspersky has also communicated this understanding to the US Department of Commerce, and we hope to receive additional guidance from the Department shortly.”
In the meantime, Kaspersky says international users can download the company’s Android antivirus programs through other app stores from Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi. The company also hosts the apps on its website. However, Kaspersky has delisted its products for US users to observe the White House ban.
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The Commerce Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. In the meantime, Kaspersky says the company’s app will continue functioning and receive security updates if installed through Google Play. But the level of protection “may be limited.”
“This is because the app is not receiving product updates, which are essential for maintaining efficiency, defending against the latest threats, and providing bug fixes and new features,” Kaspersky says. “We recommend enabling auto-updates of Kaspersky apps for Android via other mobile stores, including Galaxy Store, Huawei AppGallery, or Xiaomi GetApps, among others.”
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About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Experience
I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.
Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how President Trump's tariffs will affect the industry. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.