messaging application Archives

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

Tchap Breach: France’s State Messenger Compromised

On June 7, an unauthorized individual accessed a user account on the Tchap messaging platform, which is used by France's government. The Digital and Numérique Agency (DINUM) identified and blocked the compromised account, but the breach raised significant security concerns. The attacker claimed to have accessed about 14GB of documents and data from public Tchap rooms, including sensitive information such as hardcoded LDAP credentials, email addresses, meeting links, and organizational details. It was revealed that public chatrooms on Tchap do not use end-to-end encryption, making shared information accessible to anyone logged into the account. The incident has implications for the credibility of government-developed secure communication tools.

AppWizard

June 8, 2026

Russian messenger Max disappeared from the App Store

On June 3, the messaging application Max disappeared from the App Store, and VK, its parent company, confirmed that the installation of the app on Apple devices is currently blocked. Users are unable to find Max through the App Store's search engine or direct links.

AppWizard

June 5, 2026

Apple removed messenger “Max” from the App Store due to sanctions

Apple has removed the messaging application "Max" from its App Store, citing legal obligations but not specifying the reasons. The app, developed by VK, is no longer available for new downloads, but existing users can still use it without interruption. VK has advised users to manually open the app to receive notifications and noted that "Max" can still be accessed through other app stores. The app was launched in 2025 and had over 100 million registered users by 2026.

AppWizard

June 5, 2026

Apple has removed the Russian messaging app Max from the App Store due to sanctions

On June 3rd, the messaging application Max was removed from the Apple App Store for Russian users as part of Apple's compliance with unspecified sanctions. The app is no longer available for download or searchable in the App Store, and direct links to it result in error messages. However, users who had previously installed Max can still use the app. Last summer, the Russian government mandated the installation of Max on all new smartphones as part of a strategy to promote it and limit competing platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp.

AppWizard

June 5, 2026

Russia’s state-backed messenger ‘Max’ removed from App Store

Apple has removed the Russian messaging application Max from its App Store, allowing existing users to access the service but preventing new downloads and updates. This decision was made to comply with sanctions requirements, although specific sanctions were not disclosed. Max, developed by VK, has been promoted by Russian authorities and is pre-installed on devices sold in Russia, but is not accessible in the European Union. The CEO of VK, Vladimir Kiriyenko, has faced sanctions from the U.S., U.K., and EU since 2022.

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

Apple Removes Russian State-Backed Max Messenger From App Store Amid Spyware Questions

Apple has removed the Russian state-backed messaging application, Max, from its App Store, stopping new downloads of the platform. VK, the developer of Max, confirmed this action and stated that existing users can still use the app. VK is seeking clarification from Apple and advising users to consider alternative download options. Earlier, Cloudflare had flagged Max's domain as spyware, a designation that was later lifted. The removal of Max follows a similar action against another VK service, Telega, which Apple removed after Cloudflare identified its domains as spyware. Concerns about Max's functionality as a surveillance tool have been raised, with reports of hidden features such as remote microphone recording and contact list harvesting. Since September 2025, Max has been preinstalled on new smartphones sold in Russia.

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

Apple removes Russia’s state-backed messenger from App Store | THE DAILY TRIBUNE

Apple has removed Russia's state-sponsored messaging application, Max, from its global App Store. The Russian government is promoting Max as the primary communication tool, encouraging its adoption while restricting access to Western messaging platforms. The app, developed by VK, is unencrypted and stores user data on Russian servers. Existing users can access previously installed versions, but new users cannot download it, and current users face restrictions on software updates.

AppWizard

June 1, 2026

Samsung Messages Is Going Away for Good. Here’s How to Save Everything First

Samsung Messages will cease to function in July 2026, resulting in the loss of any unmigrated text history. Users are encouraged to transition to Google Messages, which offers features like RCS-enabled texting, high-quality image sharing, AI-powered spam detection, multi-device access, and Gemini AI features. Samsung provides instructions for this migration, especially for users on Android 12 and 13. The exact date in July for the service discontinuation is unspecified, but only emergency messaging will remain functional afterward. Samsung Messages was no longer the default app since 2021 and stopped being preinstalled in 2024. Users on Android 11 or earlier are not directly affected but are advised to switch to Google Messages. Older Galaxy Watches running Tizen will have limited access to conversation histories, while newer models on WearOS will retain full access.

AppWizard

May 29, 2026

Russian messaging app launched in Tanzania in Africa expansion drive

A Russian-developed messaging application called Max has been launched in Tanzania, offering integrated communication services such as text messaging, voice and video calls, file sharing, and online conferencing. The application has over 110 million registered users globally, with more than 80 million using it daily. Max is designed for a wide audience, including businesses and individuals, and features tools like group calls, news channels, and screen sharing. It is accessible in various regions, allowing users to register with local mobile numbers. The app utilizes NoLACE technology to improve communication quality in areas with poor connectivity.

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

You already know Russia’s Max messenger spies on users. You probably don’t know just how many surveillance tools it hides, including even a neural network for eavesdropping.

Concerns about the Russian messaging application Max have grown due to vulnerabilities and surveillance features identified by IT specialists. An analysis revealed that Max can disable encryption on conversations with a single command and includes a forced-update feature that restricts user communication until the app is updated. Max collects extensive user data, including a list of installed applications and checks for VPNs, and has the ability to disable TLS session validation. Additionally, a version of Max included a neural network for speech recognition, although these features were later removed. Despite these concerns, VK, the parent company of Max, reported rapid user growth, surpassing 120 million users as of early May, with a daily reach of 68 million users. Many users are switching from Telegram to Max due to accessibility issues with Telegram and pressure from authorities. Major mobile carriers in Russia have collaborated with VK to send authentication messages through Max, further embedding the app in users' daily lives. However, Max has faced challenges in becoming a primary source for news and entertainment, hosting around 300,000 public channels compared to Telegram's 1.6 million, which has hindered advertising growth and led to an increase in scams.