Starting next month, all phones and tablets purchased in Russia must come with a state-backed messaging app named Max pre-installed. Critics claim it can be used to track users, positioning it as a competitor to WhatsApp.
The initiative to promote Max is tied to Moscow’s effort to exert more internet control amid ongoing conflict with the West, particularly regarding Ukraine. The Kremlin has announced that Max, which will connect with government services, is among the mandated pre-installed applications for all “gadgets,” including phones and tablets sold in Russia since September 1. This week, the company behind Max reported 18 million downloads, although some users are still testing the app.
State media has suggested that critics of the Kremlin label Max as a spy app, but it reportedly has fewer permissions to access user data compared to competitors like WhatsApp and Telegram.
From September 1, Max will also be pre-installed on Apple devices via Rustore, a domestic app store that is included on all Android devices. Additionally, a Russian-language TV app named Lime HD TV will be available for free access to state TV channels, and will be pre-installed on all smart TVs sold in Russia since January 1.
This drive to promote local applications follows Russia’s announcement that it will start limiting calls on WhatsApp, owned by the Meta platform, and Telegram.
WhatsApp, which had approximately 97.3 million users in Russia as of July, accused Moscow of attempting to restrict secure communication access for Russians, while Telegram, with a user base of about 90 million, stated it would actively combat the misuse of its platform.
As per MediaScope data, VK Messenger was the third most popular messaging app in July, boasting 17.9 million users. VK, the state-managed tech company behind Max, also provides VK Messenger.
The Russian Interior Ministry reported on Wednesday that Max is a safer alternative to its foreign counterparts and has already implicated a suspect in the first fraud case involving this new messaging platform.
Recent reports indicate an increasing risk of assaults on submarine cables supported by Russia and China, which facilitate international internet traffic, particularly amid ongoing tensions in the Baltic Sea and Taiwan.
Submarine cables represent 99% of global intercontinental data traffic and have experienced various disruptive incidents allegedly tied to state activities in the past 18 months.
A study conducted by the US cybersecurity firm Recorded Future has highlighted nine incidents expected in the Baltic Sea and near Taiwan in 2024 and 2025, suggesting a predictive pattern for further harmful actions.
According to the analysis, while genuine accidents could lead to damage to many submarine cables, the situations in the Baltic Sea and Taiwan suggest a rise in malicious actions attributed to Russia and China.
“The operations linked to Russia in the Baltic region and China in the Western Pacific are likely to increase as tensions elevate,” the firm noted.
The report points to several incidents, including the disconnection of two submarine cables from Lithuania to Sweden in November, with accusations directed at an anchor dragged by a Chinese vessel. Also in December, a Russian oil tanker was detained after severing cables between Finland and Estonia.
In Taiwan, recent incidents include cable damage caused by a Chinese-operated cargo vessel zigzagging over the line to Peng Island in February. One month prior, another Chinese vessel was suggested as a likely source of damage to the Taiwan-US cable.
The analysis states, “While deterring state-sponsored sabotage linked to the Baltic and Taiwan incidents is challenging, such activities align with the strategic goals of Russia and China, as well as observed operations and their existing deep-sea capabilities.”
Recorded Future emphasizes that successful attacks on multiple cables are likely to result in prolonged disruptions, typically requiring intervention in deeper waters and likely involving state-level threat actors due to the complexities of accessing these sites. Such actions may occur prior to a full-scale conflict, the report suggests.
The firm noted 44 distinct cable damages have been recorded over the past 18 months. A significant portion is attributed to “unclear causes,” while nearly a third remains unexplained, with 16% due to seismic activity or other natural events.
Submarine cables installed in the Baltic Sea. Analysts suggest sabotaging these cables is a strategic move, as it can be framed as accidental damage. Photo: Lehtikuva/Reuters
Analysts believe that targeting subsea cables presents a strategic advantage, as such actions can disguise as accidental damage or implicate vessels without direct connections to any suspected attackers.
To mitigate the risk of incidents damaging multiple cables and resulting in “long-term connectivity issues,” Recorded Future recommends enhanced cable monitoring, improved security measures, and robust stress testing of subsea infrastructure.
Notably, despite incidents in the Baltic and Taiwan regions, the most severe cases unfolded elsewhere. In February last year, a missile from Houthi forces struck a ship’s anchor, severely disrupting communications in the Middle East. A month later, in West Africa, an underwater landslide caused significant issues, followed by another critical incident off the coast of South Africa in May 2024 related to cable drifting.
The implications of the Red Sea and African incidents reveal that the longest-lasting disruptions occur in regions with limited alternative cable options and insufficient repair capabilities, irrespective of the specific causes.
In contrast, two cable incidents in the Baltic Sea last November had minimal repercussions due to their relatively low impact and the resilience of European internet infrastructure. However, the report highlights that three EU island nations—Malta, Cyprus, and Ireland—are more susceptible due to their heavy dependence on submarine cables for global communications.
The recent strategic defense assessment from the UK government acknowledged the potential threats to submarine cables and recommended a greater and more coordinated role for the Royal Navy in safeguarding the submarine infrastructure that carries vital information, energy, and goods relied upon by citizens.
According to a new report from Microsoft, Russia is engaging in a disinformation campaign targeting the Paris Olympics. This includes the use of a deepfake video featuring Tom Cruise as the narrator of a critical documentary about the organization behind the games. You can read the full report on Microsoft’s website.
Microsoft revealed that a network of pro-Russian groups is conducting a “malign influence campaign” against France, President Emmanuel Macron, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the upcoming games in Paris. Despite Russia’s ban from the 2024 Olympics, a few Russian athletes may still participate as neutrals.
One of the tactics used by the disinformation campaign was a fake video of Tom Cruise on Telegram titled “Olympics Has Fallen.” The video, a parody of the movie “Olympus Has Fallen,” falsely claimed to be a Netflix production, featured a fake Cruise voice, and criticized the IOC. Microsoft deemed this video to be a more sophisticated creation compared to typical influence campaigns. You can access the full report released on Monday for more information.
The fake video was attributed to a Kremlin-linked group called Storm1679, known for its history of deceiving US actors. Storm1679 has been spreading fear through various videos about potential violence during the Olympics, alongside fake news broadcasts impersonating Euronews and France 24 to instill false narratives about the event.
Social media accounts associated with Storm 1679 have also posted images of graffiti in Paris threatening violence against Israelis attending the Olympics. Microsoft reported that these images were likely digitally generated rather than physically present.
Russia has a history of trying to disrupt Olympic events, with strategies dating back to the Soviet Union’s boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Another Russian group, Storm-1099 or “Doppelganger,” has launched a fake French news site spreading allegations of corruption at the IOC and potential violence in Paris.
Microsoft warned that Russia’s disinformation efforts might expand to other languages and involve the use of automated accounts and generative AI systems to create convincing fake content. This mirrors similar Chinese attempts to spread disinformation using AI-generated materials, as detailed in a previous report by Microsoft.
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