blockade Archives

AppWizard

November 29, 2025

WhatsApp Blocked in Russia: Messaging App Faces Crackdown

Roskomnadzor, Russia's communications regulator, plans to impose stricter restrictions on WhatsApp due to allegations of its use in activities that violate Russian law, such as organizing terrorist acts and fraud. WhatsApp has not met compliance standards, leading to extended limitations and the possibility of a complete ban if violations continue. Users have experienced a decline in call quality since August, prompting a recommendation to switch to domestic messaging apps. Andrey Svintsov, a deputy chairman in the State Duma, anticipates a potential shutdown of WhatsApp in Russia within four to six months, attributing restrictions to the app's owners' unwillingness to cooperate with Russian authorities and concerns over data security.

AppWizard

October 14, 2025

Google tried to kill this Pixel VoLTE-enabling app, but the developer already has a fix

In early 2023, a Korean developer launched the "Pixel IMS" app, enabling VoLTE and VoWiFi on unsupported carriers for Pixel users. A recent Google update in October 2025 disrupted this functionality by closing a loophole that allowed the app to access the overrideConfig API, resulting in the app crashing when users tried to toggle these features. The overrideConfig API is restricted to apps with the MODIFYPHONESTATE permission, typically reserved for privileged system applications. The Pixel IMS app had previously used Shizuku, an open-source tool, to gain elevated privileges and access the API. Google reclassified the loophole as a high-severity privilege escalation vulnerability but did not include it in the latest security bulletin. The update added a check to the overrideConfig API, blocking access from the shell user. In response, the developer created a workaround that indirectly calls the API through an Instrumentation component, circumventing the restriction. However, this workaround is vulnerable to future patches from Google, which could remove the necessary permissions from the shell app.

TrendTechie

October 4, 2025

«Консультант-Плюс» начал войну на уничтожение с торрент-трекерами

Rostelecom has blocked two torrent trackers, underverse.su and darkos.club, which hosted databases of legal documents from "Consultant-Plus." This action was taken by Roskomnadzor in accordance with the "anti-piracy" law, allowing copyright holders to seek court orders for blocking infringing resources. The law was expanded in 2016 to include all content types, except photographs. Consultant-Plus, established in 1992, has developed a legal database with approximately 90 million regulatory acts. The "Garant" system also achieved a blockade against the torrent tracker pirat.ca in spring 2016. All three torrent trackers have been completely blocked by Roskomnadzor and recorded in the Register of Prohibited Sites. Typically, the law allows for blocking specific URLs, but in this case, the entire range of pages associated with the trackers has been rendered inaccessible. Darkos.club had previously faced a blockade under the domain dark-os.com due to the distribution of business automation software, leading to a "perpetual" blockade by the Moscow City Court after repeated infringements.

Winsage

April 14, 2025

Windows 11 24H2: Update blocker due to wallpaper apps solved

Microsoft has addressed compatibility issues with wallpaper customization software in the Windows 11 24H2 update, lifting the update blockade on systems with known incompatibilities. Users experienced challenges such as wallpapers failing to display, disappearing desktop icons, loss of desktop preview functionality, problems with virtual desktops, and error messages from applications. The Safeguard ID for this blockade is 52754008, manageable through Windows Update for Business. Users may need to uninstall or update affected wallpaper apps to install version 24H2. The resolution timing will vary based on application updates. Additionally, Microsoft recently encountered similar issues with Senseshield protection software, leading to a reset of the update blockade for system stability.

TrendTechie

February 4, 2025

Telegram заблокировал официальный канал торрент-трекера RuTracker

The RuTracker Telegram channel was removed due to alleged copyright violations. Established in 2017, it had over 27,000 subscribers and provided updates on operational issues. After its deletion, it became unavailable, with users receiving a notification about copyright infringement. RuTracker has been permanently blocked in Russia since January 25, 2016, following a lawsuit from publishing houses. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has pledged to improve moderation efforts on the platform.

AppWizard

December 18, 2024

Oman’s Sultanate sends Nintendo with Minecraft to ‘rebuild Gaza’

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 80 percent of the region being destroyed, according to Palestinian and UN estimates. Oman has reportedly sent a shipment of Nintendo Switch consoles to Gaza, which includes the latest edition of Minecraft with customized Omani warriors. This shipment is intended to provide Minecraft credits for Palestinians to "rebuild Gaza" digitally. However, there is uncertainty about whether the Israeli army will allow the shipment into Gaza. Local sources emphasize the importance of such games for coping with psychological stress and envisioning reconstruction. Historically, Palestinians have used Minecraft creatively, such as in 2017 to design public spaces after previous conflicts. Ahmed Ghalib, a structural engineer, noted the need for skilled engineers for meaningful reconstruction efforts, while Ghada Zourob criticized the shipment as inadequate for addressing the urgent needs of Gazans. Since October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations have intensified, resulting in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths and more than 107,000 injuries, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

AppWizard

December 14, 2024

Russian authorities block Viber messaging app

Russia has officially blocked access to the Signal messaging app, making it non-functional without the use of a VPN. Additionally, Russian authorities are considering a ban on WhatsApp.

TrendTechie

September 18, 2024

Rutracker начал работать в России

RuTracker.org, the largest Russian-language torrent tracker, is now accessible within Russia without the need for circumvention tools. The site, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in September 2024, has over 14 million active users. It was previously blocked by Roskomnadzor in 2013 due to the Internet Intellectual Property Protection Law, but it currently does not appear on Roskomnadzor's registry, suggesting a potential change in its status. In related news, the video hosting platform RUTUBE has launched a monetization program for content creators, introducing a new model for generating revenue based on views on its platform and network.

AppWizard

August 25, 2024

Factbox-Who is Pavel Durov, CEO of messaging app Telegram? By Reuters

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Bourget airport near Paris due to an investigation regarding the lack of moderators on the platform, which authorities believe has allowed criminal activities to flourish. Telegram has not commented on the situation, and there has been no response from the French Interior Ministry or police. Durov, a 39-year-old Russian entrepreneur with an estimated fortune of billion, is a prominent figure in the tech industry, having previously faced government pressure in Russia and relocated to various countries for his business. Telegram has faced scrutiny from European nations over security and data concerns, particularly as it approaches a significant user milestone.

AppWizard

August 25, 2024

Factbox-Who is Pavel Durov, CEO of messaging app Telegram?

Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was apprehended at Bourget airport near Paris as part of an investigation into the lack of moderators on the platform, which authorities believe has enabled criminal activities. Telegram has not responded to inquiries, and French officials have not commented. Durov, born in Russia, has an estimated fortune of .5 billion and became a French citizen in 2021 after relocating to Dubai in 2017. He previously faced attempts by Russian authorities to ban Telegram due to non-compliance with a court order for user data access. Telegram's growing influence has raised concerns among European nations regarding security and data breaches.