Surprising Turn of Events

In a surprising turn of events, Kaspersky antivirus customers in the United States have reported that their existing antivirus software was automatically replaced with a new program called UltraAV without any prior notice. Many users took to social media to express their frustrations over this unexpected change.

One Reddit user lamented, "I woke up to Kaspersky completely gone from my system with UltraAV and UltraVPN freshly installed (not by me, just automatically while I slept)." This sentiment was echoed by other users on various platforms, all sharing the same bewildering experience of waking up to an unrequested software installation.

Government Action and Antivirus Replacement

The controversial switch to UltraAV comes just months after the U.S. government imposed a nationwide ban on the sale of Kaspersky software, citing security concerns related to the company's Russian ties. The ban was officially announced by the Commerce Department in June, with an implementation date set for July 20. Since then, Kaspersky continued to provide limited security updates until September 29, 2023.

User Notifications and Reactions

Interestingly, while many customers reported being blindsided by the update, some did receive notifications regarding the transition to UltraAV. A Kaspersky merchant, frustrated by the company's decision, stated that he felt "annoyed" by the automatic removal of Kaspersky software in favor of a different antivirus solution.

Partnership with Pango and Automatic Updates

After negotiations in September, Kaspersky reached an agreement with Pango, the American cybersecurity firm that owns UltraAV, to transition its customers to the new antivirus. UltraAV's website stated that existing Kaspersky users on Windows would receive the new software automatically and "no action is required" from their end. However, it's unclear when this announcement was made.

User Backlash and Privacy Concerns

The backlash has been significant. Avi Fleischer, a Kaspersky customer and the founder of an official Kaspersky reselling company, shared his discontent, stating, "They should've given me the option to accept UltraAV or not. They should NEVER push software onto someone’s computer without explicit permission." Fleischer reacted quickly by uninstalling UltraAV and UltraVPN from his devices.

As discussions among users and cybersecurity experts continue to unfold, concerns linger about user consent and control over personal technology. The move raises important questions about privacy and security in an era where software updates can happen without user awareness.

Looking Ahead

With users still processing this shocking change, will Kaspersky be able to mend its relationship with its customers and restore their trust? Only time will tell.