Russia's National Messenger Turned Out to Be... "Putin Is Watching"

Russia has reportedly pressured its citizens to install mobile apps that could function as a type of backdoor for surveillance.

A backdoor refers to a hidden bypass built into a system, allowing access without going through standard authentication and verification procedures.

The British daily The Guardian reported that tens of millions of people, including Russian government officials, teachers, and students, have faced widespread pressure over the past year and a half to install an app called "Max," which combines messaging, government services, and payment functions.

Backed by a massive government promotional campaign, the app has emerged as the most widely used messenger in Russia since the summer.

An analysis by a research team led by Professor Roya Ensafi at the University of Michigan revealed that Max is capable of capturing phone screens without user consent, gaining unauthorized access to information stored in the app, messages, and payment histories, and even impersonating users.

The research team also pointed out that code could be injected through Max, which the Russian government could potentially leverage to carry out cyberattacks.

Even within Russia, rumors that Max could be used as a surveillance tool have spread, leading many Russians to continue using Telegram or Signal instead.

Some government officials are reportedly keeping a separate phone specifically for using Max.

A resident in Moscow told The Guardian that using Max gives the feeling that someone might be watching.

The app was developed by a social media company close to the Russian government, and The Guardian reported that President Vladimir Putin is also known to indirectly hold a stake in the app.

(Produced by SBS Digital News | Reported by Jeong Yu-mi | Video Editing: Na Hong-hee | Design: Lee Jung-joo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.