user communication Archives

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.

AppWizard

November 17, 2025

Sbazar.cz launches in-app messenger and mobile app

Seznam has launched a new mobile application for its classifieds platform, Sbazar.cz, replacing an outdated version. The app includes the Sbazar Messenger feature to enhance user security and reduce scams. Product manager Jakub Rybár noted the increasing sophistication of fraud attempts, leading to the blocking of 50-100 suspicious accounts monthly. The app centralizes communication to mitigate risks from fake emails and phishing. Mobile users now represent over half of the site's traffic, and the app offers functionalities such as account management, listing creation and editing, and push notifications. Sbazar.cz is the third most popular classifieds site in the Czech Republic, with 3.4 million visits in October, trailing Bazos.cz and Aukro.cz. Seznam also manages other platforms, including Sauto.cz and Sreality.cz.

AppWizard

August 1, 2025

Google Messages will finally tell you when your custom ROM is the problem (APK teardown)

Google has implemented a measure to enhance the security of its messaging platform by preventing devices that fail Play Integrity checks from sending Rich Communication Services (RCS) messages. This decision has led to users experiencing vanished messages without explanation, particularly affecting those with rooted phones or custom ROMs. Recent developments indicate that Google Messages will now inform users when their devices do not meet security requirements, with a new text string stating, "Your device does not meet security requirements," expected to appear in the RCS settings. Additionally, a "Details" button is anticipated to provide further clarification on RCS limitations. This change aims to improve user communication and reduce confusion regarding message disappearances.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

Fairphone 4 skips Android 14, gets Android 15 instead

Fairphone has announced that the Android 14 update for the Fairphone 4 will not be released as planned, and the company will instead focus on upgrading directly to Android 15 due to delays and challenges in delivering a stable Android 14 version. Fairphone 4 users were expecting the Android 14 update early this year, but the company cited limited resources as a reason for bypassing it. Fairphone has committed to improving communication with users during the upgrade process, though no specific timeline for Android 15 has been provided. The Fairphone 4, launched in 2023, was initially set to receive the Android 14 update. Fairphone has acknowledged user frustration over the delays and is actively working on the Android 15 upgrade while encouraging users to engage with community forums for updates. Additionally, the Fairphone 5, which launched with Android 13, is promised at least five OS updates and eight years of software and security updates.