Kaspersky Lab to launch free antivirus software worldwide

“I’ve some fantastic, earth-shattering-saving news. We’re announcing the global launch of Kaspersky Free, which, as you may have guessed by the title, is completely free-of-charge! Oh my giveaway!” Kaspersky said. (Photo by David Orban/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

MOSCOW, July 26 — Russian software developer Kaspersky Lab announced the worldwide launch of a free antivirus Kaspersky Free, company’s head Eugene Kaspersky said Tuesday.

“I’ve some fantastic, earth-shattering-saving news. We’re announcing the global launch of Kaspersky Free, which, as you may have guessed by the title, is completely free-of-charge! Oh my giveaway!” Kaspersky said.

The free antivirus is competing with its commercial versions that have more features, the company said, adding that the work on the antivirus took a year and a half.

“Last year, the product successfully piloted in the Russia-Ukraine-Belarus region in China, and also in the Nordic countries,” the company said.

The company’s free antivirus will initially be available to the US, Canada, and many of the Asia Pacific countries; in September to India, Hong Kong, Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Latin America; in October to Europe, Japan and South Korea; and in November to Vietnam and Thailand. The launch of the software coincides with company’s 20th anniversary.