Kaspersky Review 2026: 100% Detection (But Banned in the US)

Kaspersky has consistently delivered some of the best malware detection rates in the industry. Independent testing labs routinely rank it at or near the top. But in June 2024, the US government banned Kaspersky from sale and operation in the United States, citing national security concerns related to the company’s Russian origins.

This creates a unique situation: objectively excellent security software that comes with significant caveats depending on where you live. We spent 90 days testing Kaspersky to answer the questions that matter most in 2025: How good is the protection really? Is it safe to use outside the US? And what should American users do instead?

Quick Verdict

On pure technical merit, Kaspersky delivers exceptional malware protection. It achieved a perfect 100% detection rate in AV-Comparatives testing and earned 6/6 scores across all AV-TEST categories. The system impact is minimal, making it one of the lightest antivirus solutions available.

However, the geopolitical situation cannot be ignored. The US ban is real and has legal consequences for American users. European and other international users face a personal risk assessment: do you trust software from a Russian company given current geopolitical tensions?

Bottom line: For users outside the United States who are comfortable with a Russian-owned security product, Kaspersky offers objectively excellent protection at competitive prices. US residents must use alternatives. If you have any hesitation about the company’s origins, Bitdefender and Norton offer comparable protection without the geopolitical baggage.

The US Ban: What Happened and What It Means

On June 20, 2024, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Final Determination prohibiting Kaspersky Lab and its affiliates from providing antivirus software and cybersecurity products in the United States.

Timeline of Events

Date	Event
June 20, 2024	US government announces Kaspersky ban
July 20, 2024	Sales of Kaspersky products prohibited in US
September 29, 2024	Software updates cease for US users
October 2024	Kaspersky transitions existing US customers to UltraAV

Why Was Kaspersky Banned?

The Commerce Department cited national security concerns:

1. Russian government influence: As a Russian company, Kaspersky Lab is subject to Russian law, including requirements to cooperate with intelligence services
2. Data access concerns: Antivirus software has deep system access, potentially enabling data collection or system manipulation
3. Update mechanism vulnerability: The software update process could theoretically be used to deploy malicious code
4. Geopolitical climate: The ban came amid heightened tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

What Happened to US Customers

Kaspersky automatically transitioned most US subscribers to UltraAV, a product from Pango Group. This transition was controversial because it happened automatically without explicit user consent in some cases. Many users reported confusion when their Kaspersky installation was replaced.

If you are a current US Kaspersky user who missed the transition, your software is no longer receiving updates and should be considered compromised. Uninstall immediately and install a supported alternative.

Is Kaspersky Safe to Use Outside the United States?

This is the critical question for international readers. Here is an honest assessment:

Arguments That It Is Safe

• No evidence of data misuse: Despite years of scrutiny, no concrete evidence has emerged that Kaspersky has spied on users or provided data to Russian intelligence
• Transparency initiatives: Kaspersky moved data processing for European users to Switzerland and opened Transparency Centers where governments can inspect source code
• Independent audits: The software has been audited by independent firms
• Business incentive: Any proven misconduct would destroy the company’s international business

Arguments for Caution

• Russian legal requirements: Russian law requires companies to cooperate with intelligence services; Kaspersky cannot legally refuse
• State-level access: Antivirus software has kernel-level access to systems, making it a powerful surveillance vector if compromised
• Geopolitical escalation: If tensions with Russia worsen, software updates could theoretically become a risk vector
• Government restrictions spreading: Germany’s BSI warned against Kaspersky in March 2022; other countries may follow the US example

Our Assessment

For most individual users in Europe, Asia, South America, and other regions, the practical risk is likely low. Kaspersky has strong business incentives to maintain trust, and using it for home protection is probably fine.

However, for businesses, government contractors, or anyone handling sensitive information, the prudent choice is to use an alternative. The risk-reward calculation changes when the potential downside includes compromised corporate or government data.

Malware Protection: The Numbers Speak

Whatever your view on the geopolitical situation, Kaspersky’s technical performance is exceptional.

AV-TEST Results (October 2025)

Category	Score	Industry Average
Protection	6/6	5.6/6
Performance	6/6	5.5/6
Usability	6/6	5.7/6

Kaspersky achieved a perfect 18/18 score, placing it among the top performers alongside Norton and Bitdefender.

AV-Comparatives Results (July-October 2025)

Test	Result	Rank
Real-World Protection	100%	1st (tied)
Malware Protection	99.98%	2nd
False Positives	2	Best in class
Overall Rating	Advanced+	Highest tier

The false positive rate deserves special mention. Kaspersky flagged only 2 legitimate files as malware during testing, the lowest among all products tested. This means fewer interruptions from false alarms.

System Performance Impact

This is where Kaspersky truly excels. AV-Comparatives performance testing showed Kaspersky with the lowest system impact of all products tested. The Impact Score of 2.1 was better than Norton (3.8), Bitdefender (7.9), and Windows Defender (17.3).

Operation	Kaspersky	Industry Average
Launching applications	Very Fast	Average
Installing applications	Very Fast	Slow
Copying files	Very Fast	Average
Launching websites	Very Fast	Fast
Downloading files	Very Fast	Average

If you are running older hardware or are sensitive to system slowdowns, Kaspersky is among the lightest options available.

Kaspersky Products Compared

Kaspersky restructured its product lineup in 2024, moving from the “Internet Security” and “Total Security” branding to a simplified Standard/Plus/Premium model.

Kaspersky Standard

Price: $27.99 first year (3 devices)

Feature	Included
Real-time protection	Yes
Web protection	Yes
Phishing protection	Yes
Performance tools	Yes
VPN	Limited (300MB/day)
Password Manager	No
Privacy Protection	Basic

Best for: Users who need core antivirus protection without extras.

Kaspersky Plus

Price: $38.99 first year (3 devices)

Feature	Included
Everything in Standard	Yes
VPN	Unlimited
Password Manager	Yes
Data Leak Checker	Yes
Smart Home Monitor	Yes

Best for: Users who want VPN and password management bundled with antivirus.

Kaspersky Premium

Price: $52.99 first year (3 devices)

Feature	Included
Everything in Plus	Yes
Identity Protection	Yes
Remote IT Support	Yes
Kaspersky Safe Kids (1 year)	Yes
Premium Support	Yes

Best for: Families who need parental controls and comprehensive protection.

Price Comparison with Competitors

Product	First Year (3 devices)	Renewal Price	Detection Rate
Kaspersky Plus	$38.99	$74.99	100%
Bitdefender Total Security	$49.99	$89.99	99.9%
Norton 360 Deluxe	$49.99	$119.99	100%
McAfee Total Protection	$39.99	$119.99	99.8%

Kaspersky offers competitive pricing, particularly considering the performance and detection rates.

Features Deep Dive

Real-Time Protection

Kaspersky’s multi-layered protection includes:

• File scanning: Checks files on access, download, and execution
• Behavior analysis: Monitors application behavior for suspicious activity
• Cloud-assisted detection: Uses Kaspersky Security Network for real-time threat intelligence
• Exploit prevention: Blocks attempts to exploit software vulnerabilities
• Ransomware protection: Dedicated module that monitors for encryption behavior

Web Protection

The web protection features are comprehensive:

• Safe browsing: Blocks access to malicious and phishing websites
• Safe Money: Isolated browser for online banking and shopping
• Anti-banner: Blocks intrusive advertising (not a full ad blocker)
• Private browsing: Prevents tracking by analytics services
• Webcam protection: Alerts when applications access your camera

VPN (Plus and Premium)

Kaspersky’s VPN is rebranded from Hotspot Shield:

Specification	Detail
Data limit	Unlimited (Plus/Premium)
Servers	70+ countries
Protocols	Hydra, WireGuard
Kill switch	Yes
Split tunneling	Yes

The VPN is serviceable for basic privacy needs but does not match dedicated VPN services for streaming unblocking or raw speed.

Password Manager

Available in Plus and Premium tiers:

• Secure password storage with AES-256 encryption
• Browser extensions for auto-fill
• Password generator
• Secure document storage
• Cross-platform sync

The password manager is competent but basic compared to dedicated services like 1Password or Bitwarden.

Parental Controls (Safe Kids)

Kaspersky Safe Kids is included with Premium (1 year) and available separately:

• Screen time management
• App usage monitoring
• GPS location tracking
• YouTube search monitoring
• Social media monitoring
• Content filtering by category

Independent testing rates Kaspersky Safe Kids among the best parental control solutions available.

Pros and Cons

Alternatives for US Users

If you are in the United States, here are our recommended alternatives:

Bitdefender Total Security

Best overall alternative. Bitdefender matches Kaspersky’s detection rates (99.9% vs 100%) with minimal system impact. Romanian company with no geopolitical concerns.

• Price: $49.99/year (5 devices)
• Detection rate: 99.9% (AV-Comparatives)
• System impact: Low

Norton 360 Deluxe

Best for comprehensive protection. Norton offers excellent detection with bundled VPN, cloud backup, and dark web monitoring. US-based company (Gen Digital).

• Price: $49.99/year (5 devices)
• Detection rate: 100% (AV-Comparatives)
• System impact: Very low

Microsoft Defender

Best free option. Windows Defender has improved dramatically and now offers solid protection. Already installed on Windows systems.

• Price: Free
• Detection rate: 99.4% (AV-Comparatives)
• System impact: Moderate

For US users who previously relied on Kaspersky, Bitdefender is our top recommendation as a direct replacement.

Should You Use Kaspersky?

Use Kaspersky If You:

• Live outside the United States (and it remains legal in your country)
• Prioritize malware detection rates above all else
• Have older hardware and need minimal system impact
• Are comfortable with a Russian-owned security product
• Want excellent parental controls (Safe Kids)
• Need the best value on a budget

Choose an Alternative If You:

• Live in the United States (legally required)
• Work with sensitive government or corporate data
• Have any hesitation about Russian software given current geopolitics
• Prefer a company headquartered in a Western democracy
• Want to avoid potential future restrictions if your country follows the US example
• Need advanced VPN features for streaming

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kaspersky banned worldwide?

No. The ban is currently limited to the United States. Kaspersky remains legal and fully functional in Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and most other regions. However, Germany’s BSI has warned against using Kaspersky, and other countries may implement restrictions.

Will Kaspersky work if I travel to the US?

If you have an active international subscription, the software will likely continue to function while traveling in the US. However, you will not receive software updates while on US networks, and using it may violate the spirit of US regulations. For extended stays, consider using an alternative.

Is Kaspersky actually spying on users?

There is no public evidence that Kaspersky has engaged in espionage or provided user data to Russian intelligence. The US ban is based on potential risk due to Russian jurisdiction, not proven misconduct. Kaspersky has opened Transparency Centers where governments can review source code.

What happened to US Kaspersky customers?

Kaspersky transitioned most US customers to UltraAV, a product from Pango Group. This transition happened automatically in late 2024. If you are in the US and still have Kaspersky installed, your software is not receiving updates and should be replaced immediately.

Is Kaspersky better than Bitdefender?

They are extremely close in protection. Kaspersky has a slight edge in detection rates (100% vs 99.9%) and system performance. Bitdefender has no geopolitical concerns and includes more features at standard tiers. For most users, Bitdefender is the safer choice unless you specifically need Kaspersky’s lighter system footprint.

Does Kaspersky slow down your computer?

No. Kaspersky has the lowest system impact of any antivirus software in AV-Comparatives testing. It is particularly well-suited for older computers or laptops where performance matters.

Can I trust Kaspersky’s Transparency Centers?

The Transparency Centers allow government officials and partners to review Kaspersky’s source code and data practices. This is a positive step, but critics note that source code review does not guarantee that deployed software matches reviewed code. The centers address some concerns but not all.

Is Kaspersky safe for business use?

For businesses outside the US, this depends on your risk tolerance and regulatory environment. Many enterprises have moved away from Kaspersky due to compliance concerns, particularly those with government contracts or in regulated industries. For personal use, the risk is lower.

Final Verdict

Kaspersky presents a genuine dilemma. The technical performance is exceptional: 100% malware detection, the lowest system impact in the industry, and competitive pricing. On pure merit, it would be an easy recommendation.

But security software requires trust, and that trust is complicated when the software comes from a company subject to Russian law during a period of significant geopolitical tension. The US ban reflects this reality, even if no evidence of actual misconduct has been publicly presented.

For international users: If you are comfortable using Russian software, Kaspersky offers objectively excellent protection. The Transparency Centers and lack of proven misconduct provide some reassurance. It is a legitimate choice, particularly for users on older hardware who need light system impact.

For US users: Do not use Kaspersky. The ban is real, updates have ceased, and using the software may have legal implications. Bitdefender and Norton offer comparable protection without restrictions.

For the uncertain: If you have any hesitation, choose an alternative. Bitdefender and Norton are within a percentage point on detection rates. Peace of mind has value, and you sacrifice almost nothing by choosing a Western alternative.

Our Rating: 4.0/5

Excellent technical performance tempered by significant availability restrictions and geopolitical concerns.

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Last updated: December 2025. We re-test antivirus software quarterly. The US ban status and international availability may change; verify current regulations for your country before purchasing.