Australia bans Kaspersky antivirus software on all government systems

The Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs has prohibited the use of antivirus software and other products from Kaspersky on all government systems and devices.

According to Stephanie Foster, Minister of Home Affairs, the company’s software poses an ‘unacceptable security risk’ to the Australian government, networks, and data.

Foster has issued a so-called mandatory direction under the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF), which prevents Australian government organizations from installing antivirus software or any other product of Kaspersky Lab Inc. on their systems or devices, and to remove existing services.

“After considering threat and risk analysis, I have determined that the use of Kaspersky Lab, Inc. products and web services by Australian government entities poses an unacceptable security risk to the Australian government, networks, and data, arising from threats of foreign interference, espionage, and sabotage,” Foster says in PSPF Direction 002-2025.

“I have also considered the important need for a strong policy signal to critical infrastructure and other Australian governments regarding the unacceptable security risk associated with the use of Kaspersky Lab, Inc. products and web services,” she continues.

Government organizations have until April 1st, 2025, to identify and remove all existing Kaspersky products from their systems and devices, prevent the installation of any Kaspersky Labs products and web services, and report completion of these requirements.

The Accountable Authority may seek an exemption for a legitimate business reason, limited to national security and regulatory functions, for the use of Kaspersky Lab, Inc. products and web services on Australian government systems and devices. However, the regulator must ensure that appropriate security safeguards are in place. The use of Kaspersky products is only admitted for a limited time.

Australia isn’t the first country to ban Kaspersky services. In July 2024, the Biden administration imposed a ban on Kaspersky products.

“Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive US information, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to safeguard US national security and the American people,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo explained the ban at the time.