Google bans Kaspersky antivirus apps – here’s what you should know.

Google is removing Kaspersky apps from the Play Store. Android users will have to look for an alternative solution.

Google has removed the Android security apps from the Russian company Kaspersky from the Play Store. As reported by the tech portal BleepingComputer, the antivirus software manufacturer’s products have been unavailable in the official Android app store since last weekend. The removal of the apps affects not only the US market but worldwide.

A Google spokesperson confirmed to BleepingComputer that the removal was due to recent US government sanctions against Kaspersky. This measure follows a June ban on the sale of Kaspersky software for national security reasons.

How does Kaspersky react?

Kaspersky confirmed the problem on its official forum but criticized Google’s decision as excessive. The company argues that the US restrictions have no significant legal impact outside the United States. Kaspersky suspects Google is overinterpreting the US regulations and hopes for further information from the US Department of Commerce.

An employee explained that the company is investigating the circumstances and looking for possible solutions. The goal is to ensure that users can continue to download and update Kaspersky products from the Google Play Store.

Until then, Kaspersky recommends that its customers install the software from alternative app stores such as the Samsung Galaxy Store, the Huawei AppGallery, or Xiaomi GetApps.

Users can also download the applications as APK files directly from the Kaspersky website. The company emphasizes that the product range is identical across all stores.

What is an APK file?

An APK file is an installation package for Android apps, similar to an EXE file on Windows computers. Android apps must be manually installed when they are not available through the official Google Play Store.

What are the consequences?

Impact on customers and companies

For Android users, the removal of Kaspersky apps from the Play Store limits their choice of security software. Those who don’t want to take the cumbersome and significantly less secure route of manually installing the APK file must now resort to alternative sources to use the Russian provider’s products.

For Kaspersky, being excluded from the world’s largest Android app store could have significant business consequences.

In the US, Kaspersky has already taken action in response to the trade and distribution ban. About two weeks ago, the company automatically switched its US customers to Pango’s UltraAV antivirus software without prior notice. It is unknown whether similar measures will follow in other countries.

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