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Russia Orders Pre-installation Of Messenger App MAX On Phones And Tablets
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
The Russian government announced on Thursday that the state-backed messaging app MAX must be pre-installed on all smartphones and tablets sold in the country starting September 1.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Russia ordered the pre-installation of the state-backed messaging app MAX on all smartphones and tablets starting on September 1.
- The announcement has sparked debate and raised concerns about surveillance and government control over citizens.
- MAX competes with WhatsApp and Telegram, and has been designed to evolve into a larger platform, similar to China’s super-app WeChat.
According to Reuters , the messaging app will be integrated with government services, and all devices must also include RuStore, Russia’s domestic app store, pre-installed, even on Apple products.
Another app, LIME HD TV, a platform that allows citizens to watch local TV channels for free, will be pre-installed on all smart TVs starting on January 1 next year.
The announcement has sparked debate and raised concerns about surveillance and government control over citizens.
MAX, launched in March by the state-controlled social media group VK, competes against similar platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp, which have been recently restricted in Russia . The government banned voice calls last week, claiming the platforms enable fraud and terrorism.
Other foreign social media platforms, such as X, Instagram, and Facebook, are also banned in the country. A few months ago, Russia also fined Google over videos on YouTube encouraging Russian soldiers to surrender.
According to CNN , MAX doesn’t provide end-to-end encryption like WhatsApp and Telegram, increasing the risk of accessing users’ data. The app has been designed to grow and evolve as China’s WeChat super-app, a platform that includes multiple apps and features in one service and is likely under state surveillance.
MAX has over 18 million downloads, while WhatsApp recently reached 96 million monthly users, and Telegram reached 89 million.
Anastasiia Kruope, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, has been reporting on Russia’s bans on foreign social media platforms and websites.
Image by Road Ahead, from Unsplash
Oregon Man Charged Over Massive Rapper Bot Cyberattack Network
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
A 22-year-old man from Oregon has been charged with running one of the world’s most powerful cyberattack tools, known as “Rapper Bot.”
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Over 370,000 attacks targeted 18,000 victims in 80 countries.
- Attacks reached 2–6 terabits per second, causing $500–$10,000 losses.
- Rapper Bot’s creator faces up to 10 years if convicted of computer intrusions.
Ethan Foltz, a resident of Eugene, Oregon, has been accused by prosecutors of creating and running a botnet that spread to tens of thousands of internet-connected devices.
These devices, which ranged from DVRs to Wi Fi routers, were then hijacked to carry out attacks on websites and servers around the globe. Essentially, once a device was compromised, it became a soldier in a massive digital army launching coordinated assaults that overwhelmed their targets, known as Distributed Denial of Service attacks.
According to court documents, Rapper Bot, also called “Eleven Eleven Botnet” and “CowBot”, has been active since 2021, carrying out more than 370,000 attacks against 18,000 victims across 80 countries. Victims included U.S. government systems, major social media platforms, gaming companies, and large tech firms.
The attacks often reached speeds of 2 to 3 terabits per second, with the largest possibly exceeding 6 terabits. Even short attacks lasting just 30 seconds could cost victims between $500 and $10,000. Authorities also say some Rapper Bot customers used it to extort money, threatening to unleash devastating attacks unless victims paid up.
“Rapper Bot was one of the most powerful DDoS botnets to ever exist, but the outstanding investigatory work by DCIS cyber agents and support of my office and industry partners has put an end to Foltz’s time as administrator and effectively disrupted the activities of this transnational criminal group,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman.
Special Agent Kenneth DeChellis of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service added: “The Rapper Bot malware was a clear threat, and the focused efforts of DCIS, our industry partners, and the federal prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alaska, sends a clear signal to those who would harm the DoD’s personnel, infrastructure, and intellectual property, that their actions will come at a cost.”
Foltz has been charged with aiding and abetting computer intrusions, which carries up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
