What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
For people in the United States, uninstalling Kaspersky and moving to a supported antivirus is the prudent choice. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) prohibited covered Kaspersky transactions with U.S. persons, including antivirus signature and codebase updates and Kaspersky Security Network operation, beginning September 29, 2024. BIS says continuing users do not incur individual legal penalties under that determination, but they accept the associated cybersecurity risks. Outside the United States, the decision depends on local law, whether your installation still receives trustworthy updates, and your confidence in the vendor’s jurisdiction and supply chain.
Kaspersky has continued to perform well in independent malware tests, so the U.S. action is not a claim that every scan is ineffective. It is a national-security and trust decision that can also leave U.S. customers without a dependable update path.
Why should U.S. users uninstall Kaspersky?
U.S. users should plan a controlled replacement rather than leave Kaspersky installed indefinitely. BIS concluded that Kaspersky’s Russian-government jurisdiction and the possibility of influence over its operations created unacceptable national-security and safety risks. The agency cited potential access to sensitive U.S. customer information, the ability to install malicious software or withhold critical updates, and possible data theft, espionage, or system malfunction.
The prohibition was phased in, so the dates matter:
Popular on Amazon
- THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
- GUIDED ACTION – Know what matters and what to do next. Clear alerts and simple guidance make it easy to take action.
- MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.
| Date | What changed | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| July 20, 2024 | New covered agreements were prohibited. | U.S. persons could not enter the covered new transactions identified by BIS. |
| September 29, 2024 | Covered antivirus signature and codebase updates, plus Kaspersky Security Network operation for U.S. persons, were prohibited. | A U.S. installation could stop receiving the protection and cloud-network functions it relies on. |
In its June 20, 2024 announcement, BIS strongly encouraged individuals and businesses to transition quickly to new vendors to limit exposure of personal or sensitive data if coverage became unreliable. BIS also stated that individuals and businesses continuing to use Kaspersky would not face legal penalties under the final determination; they would, however, assume the cybersecurity and related risks themselves.
The Federal Communications Commission’s Covered List adds a separate U.S. supply-chain warning for Kaspersky products. That designation is distinct from the malware-detection question: a product can block malicious files effectively while still being considered an unacceptable supply-chain risk by a government.
Is Kaspersky still technically effective?
Independent testing indicates that Kaspersky can provide strong malware protection in the specific versions and period tested. AV-Comparatives’ February-May 2025 real-world test covered 423 cases across 19 consumer Windows products. Kaspersky blocked 420 cases, had three compromises, and achieved a 99.3% protection rate. Microsoft Defender blocked 419, had four compromises, and achieved 99.1%.
| Product in the AV-Comparatives test | Cases blocked | Compromises | Protection rate | Test period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaspersky (tested version) | 420 of 423 | 3 | 99.3% | February-May 2025 |
| Microsoft Defender (tested version) | 419 of 423 | 4 | 99.1% | February-May 2025 |
AV-Comparatives’ 2025 annual summary gave Kaspersky a Top-Rated Product award and also listed Bitdefender among the Top-Rated products. Those results answer a narrow question—how the tested builds handled the test set. They do not establish that a product will receive future updates in every country, resolve government restrictions, or guarantee that a vendor’s infrastructure is trustworthy.
Do not interpret the U.S. action as a finding that Kaspersky itself is malware, and do not treat a high test score as proof or disproof of espionage. Detection performance, legal authorization, ownership jurisdiction, telemetry handling, and update continuity are separate decision factors.
Also popular on Amazon
![Norton 360 Deluxe 2027 Antivirus, 3 Devices, Auto-Renews [Download] | Includes Scam Protection, Advanced VPN, Dark Web Monitoring, & PC Cloud Backup](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41qw3FS3qLL._SL160_.jpg)
- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for 3 PCs, Macs, iOS or Android devices in minutes!
- TOP-PERFORMING VPN Faster speeds, more server locations, and greater connection control to protect your privacy across all your devices, including Smart TVs.
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of keeping Kaspersky?
Keeping the software avoids migration work and may preserve features already included in your edition. Uninstalling removes the affected vendor from the device, but only helps if another product is installed and updating before the old one is removed.
| Decision factor | Keep Kaspersky | Uninstall and replace |
|---|---|---|
| Malware protection | Strong result in the February-May 2025 independent test, limited to the tested build and conditions. | Protection depends on the replacement’s own test results, settings, and update status. |
| Trust and jurisdiction | Kaspersky disputes the U.S. rationale and says it proposed independent verification; U.S. government concerns remain. | Removes Kaspersky from the endpoint and addresses the U.S. update and supply-chain concern. |
| Updates and cloud services | Covered U.S. signature/codebase updates and Kaspersky Security Network operation are prohibited after September 29, 2024. | A supported alternative can receive current updates, subject to its vendor and region. |
| Features | Your edition may include a firewall, web filtering, payment protection, password tools, or other extras. | Features vary. Windows includes baseline antivirus; paid suites may add controls but can overlap with built-in tools. |
| Cost | An existing subscription may already be paid for, although its renewal and support status still matter. | Microsoft Defender requires no separate purchase on supported Windows installations; paid products have their own device limits and renewal prices. |
| Effort | No migration or reconfiguration is needed. | You must arrange replacement protection, uninstall, possibly restart, and verify that the new protection is active. |
What happens if you keep Kaspersky installed in the United States?
The immediate issue is not that the program suddenly stops opening. An existing interface may continue to scan files, but the covered update and network prohibitions mean you cannot assume that signatures, code, or cloud reputation services remain current. Over time, that can turn familiar protection into a stale or partially functioning control.
You also retain the privacy, jurisdiction, and supply-chain exposure that led to the U.S. decision. A successful historical test cannot compensate for an update path that your region no longer supports. If a work computer, regulated system, or network stores sensitive information, leaving unsupported endpoint software in place adds an avoidable control failure.
Outside the United States, continued use may be reasonable during a managed transition if local law permits it and the product demonstrably receives signed updates from a trustworthy channel. Check the product’s current regional availability, update timestamp, subscription status, and your country’s guidance before deciding. A test score from 2025 should not be read as evidence that a 2026 installation in another region has identical services.
How should users outside the United States decide?
Use a documented check rather than assuming that the U.S. determination applies everywhere or that it has no relevance elsewhere.
Also popular on Amazon
![Norton 360 Deluxe 2027 Antivirus, 5 Devices, Auto-Renews [Download] | Includes Scam Protection, Advanced VPN, Dark Web Monitoring, & PC Cloud Backup](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41IYV5zGyCL._SL160_.jpg)
- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for 5 PCs, Macs, iOS or Android devices in minutes!
- TOP-PERFORMING VPN Faster speeds, more server locations, and greater connection control to protect your privacy across all your devices, including Smart TVs.
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
- Confirm jurisdiction: Check your country’s current rules, procurement restrictions, and any guidance for government, education, health, or critical-infrastructure systems.
- Check update health: In the Kaspersky console, look for the last successful database and application update, the update source, and any regional service warning. A recent date alone does not prove that future updates will continue.
- Identify data exposure: Review which files, browsing events, payment sessions, and cloud reputation requests the installed edition sends, and whether that processing is acceptable under your privacy requirements.
- Assess replacement readiness: Do not remove a working antivirus until the alternative is downloaded from its official channel, compatible with your operating system, and ready to activate.
- Record the decision: For a business or shared device, note the product edition, update status, decision owner, and review date so a temporary exception does not become permanent by accident.
How do you uninstall Kaspersky safely on Windows?
Set up replacement protection first. Removing an antivirus before another protection layer is active can leave a gap, even if Windows later enables its built-in service.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
- Prepare the replacement. On a supported Windows installation, confirm that Windows Security/Microsoft Defender is available, or download the chosen replacement installer from its official vendor. Have the activation details ready if it is paid.
- Save only necessary records. Keep a license number, invoice, or account information if you need a refund or proof of purchase. Do not export sensitive browsing, payment, or personal data merely because an uninstall wizard offers an optional migration.
- Open the installed-app list. Select Settings > Apps > Installed apps, search for “Kaspersky,” select the installed Kaspersky product, and choose Uninstall. Brown University’s removal guide documents this search-and-uninstall route.
- Complete the wizard. Follow the prompts, including any choice about preserving settings. If the wizard requests a restart, allow it; kernel-level security components may not be fully removed until Windows reboots.
- Install or enable the replacement. After the restart, finish the replacement’s setup and allow its first update and scan to complete. If you are relying on Microsoft Defender, open Windows Security and enable the protections it reports as off.
- Check for leftovers. Remove Kaspersky browser extensions, VPN or password-manager components, scheduled tasks, and account profiles only when you recognize them and no longer need their data. Do not delete unrelated folders or registry entries manually.
How do you remove Kaspersky from a Mac?
macOS removal is similar but uses Finder, and some editions install system extensions that need the vendor’s uninstaller.
- Install or confirm your replacement protection before removing Kaspersky.
- Open Finder > Applications, search for Kaspersky, and move the application to the Trash, following Brown University’s documented Mac steps.
- If the application includes an uninstall command, use it. If a normal removal fails or macOS reports a system extension still present, use Kaspersky’s current removal utility for that edition rather than deleting protected files by hand.
- Restart the Mac if prompted, then open the replacement’s dashboard and verify that real-time protection and updates are active.
- Review System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions for recognizable Kaspersky entries and remove only entries left by the uninstalled product.
How can you verify that the replacement is protecting the device?
A successful uninstall is not the same as active protection. Check the status after the final restart and again after the first update.
- Windows Security or the replacement console says real-time protection is on, not merely that the application is installed.
- The database, engine, and application show a recent successful update with no subscription or connectivity error.
- The operating system reports no conflicting antivirus products. Running two real-time antivirus engines can cause blocked updates, duplicate notifications, or degraded performance.
- A manual quick scan starts and completes, and the quarantine area is accessible.
- Kaspersky browser extensions, VPN modules, and startup items are gone if you no longer use them.
If Windows Security says another antivirus is managing protection, open that product and verify its own status rather than assuming the message is an error. If no product reports active protection, reconnect to the internet, complete pending operating-system updates, and reinstall the replacement before browsing or opening untrusted files.
What antivirus should replace Kaspersky?
Choose according to operating system, update reliability, privacy requirements, and the features you actually use. No alternative is risk-free, and independent test results apply only to particular versions and periods.
Also popular on Amazon
- THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
- GUIDED ACTION – Know what matters and what to do next. Clear alerts and simple guidance make it easy to take action.
- MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.
Microsoft Defender Antivirus
Microsoft Defender is integrated into supported Windows installations and provides an essential antivirus baseline without a separate purchase. It is the simplest option when you want automatic Windows integration, no additional subscription, and a small migration footprint. Confirm that your Windows edition is supported and that Windows Update is functioning; an unpatched operating system weakens any antivirus.
Bitdefender Total Security
Bitdefender Total Security is a paid consumer suite that AV-Comparatives listed among its 2025 Top-Rated products. Compare the number of devices, renewal price, supported platforms, privacy terms, and feature overlap before buying. A larger suite can add useful controls, but unused modules increase configuration and notification overhead.
Other independently tested products
AV-Comparatives’ tested product set also includes options such as ESET, Norton, McAfee, Avast, AVG, F-Secure, G DATA, and Malwarebytes. Compare protection, false alarms, performance impact, platform support, update behavior, vendor jurisdiction, and total renewal cost rather than selecting solely from one test percentage. Verify that the edition you buy is the edition tested, because product names can cover materially different tiers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should businesses do with managed Kaspersky devices?
Do not remove endpoint protection from a fleet through an improvised desktop procedure. Inventory affected devices, identify servers and remote workers, and stage the replacement policy before uninstalling.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute- Map Kaspersky products, versions, operating systems, and administrative ownership.
- Choose and license the replacement, then test policy deployment, exclusions, tamper protection, logging, and alert forwarding on a small pilot group.
- Use BIS and CISA enterprise guidance to interpret the U.S. prohibition and document the compliance decision.
- Schedule removal during a maintenance window, with an out-of-band recovery path for devices that lose connectivity or fail to enroll.
- Verify that every endpoint checks in, receives current signatures, and reports healthy protection before closing the migration.
For regulated environments, retain the change record, replacement approval, test evidence, and exception dates. A temporary decision to keep Kaspersky while a migration is staged should have an owner and an expiration date.
Also popular on Amazon
- THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
- GUIDED ACTION – Know what matters and what to do next. Clear alerts and simple guidance make it easy to take action.
- MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.
What are common removal problems and fixes?
The uninstall button is missing
Sign in with an administrator account, close Kaspersky windows, and retry from Settings > Apps > Installed apps. If the device is managed, the administrator may have blocked local removal; use the organization’s software-management console instead.
The computer still reports Kaspersky after restart
Open the replacement’s status page and the operating system’s installed-app list. Remove a remaining Kaspersky component through its own uninstaller, then restart again. Avoid registry cleaners or random deletion commands, which can damage unrelated security components.
The replacement will not activate
Check operating-system compatibility, system date and time, network access, subscription or license limits, and whether another antivirus is still registered as the active provider. Uninstall the conflicting product completely, reboot, and run the replacement’s update before attempting activation again.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A work device loses protection during migration
Disconnect it from sensitive work if policy permits, contact the security administrator through an alternate channel, and use the documented recovery image or management tool. Do not install an unapproved consumer antivirus on a corporate endpoint without authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling Kaspersky delete my personal files?
A normal antivirus uninstall removes the application, services, and security components, not documents, photos, or other files. It can remove quarantined items and locally stored settings, so recover anything you intentionally need before confirming those options in the uninstall wizard.
Can I run Microsoft Defender and another antivirus at the same time?
Windows may place Defender in passive or limited mode when another real-time antivirus registers as active. Keep one real-time engine enabled and use any additional scanner only in its on-demand mode unless the vendor explicitly documents a compatible configuration.
How long should I keep the Kaspersky license information?
Retain the invoice, subscription ID, and renewal date until any refund, charge dispute, or accounting requirement is resolved. After that, store only the minimum record required by your household or organization’s retention policy.
Recommended Free Tools
Does the U.S. prohibition apply to a traveler using a non-U.S. installation?
The determination applies to covered transactions and services involving U.S. persons, so a traveler’s situation can depend on residence, employer, device ownership, and where the service is used. Businesses and travelers should obtain current legal or compliance advice rather than infer coverage from the device’s physical location alone.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
