user tracking

AppWizard
February 12, 2026
The Russian government has officially blocked WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, due to its failure to comply with local laws. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed this decision and encouraged citizens to use MAX, a state-backed messaging service, as an alternative. Critics have raised concerns about MAX being a potential surveillance tool, which the authorities denied. The ban on WhatsApp follows six months of pressure on the platform as part of a broader strategy by Russian authorities to establish a "sovereign" communications infrastructure. Meta Russia has been designated as an extremist organization, and WhatsApp criticized the government's actions, warning that blocking the app could increase risks for over 100 million users in Russia. Restrictions include the removal of WhatsApp's domain names from Russia's national register, forcing users to access it via VPNs. The government has also imposed restrictions on other social media platforms and has fined WhatsApp for not removing prohibited content, insisting on the establishment of a local representative office, which has not occurred.
AppWizard
February 12, 2026
On February 11, WhatsApp announced that the Russian government has taken steps to "fully block" its services in the country as part of a strategy to promote a state-sponsored “super” app called Max. Max is a state-run “super-app” developed by VKontakte that integrates messaging, government services, document storage, banking, and other applications. The Russian government has mandated that smartphone manufacturers pre-install Max on all devices sold in the country. In addition to WhatsApp, Telegram has also faced restrictions, with plans to impose limitations due to its failure to block certain content. The Russian communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, is set to impose restrictions on Telegram, and the platform is facing a fine of 64 million rubles for not removing restricted content. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that WhatsApp's return to Russia depends on Meta's compliance with local regulations.
AppWizard
September 29, 2025
The F-Droid project, a distributor of open-source applications for Android, faces challenges due to Google's plans to enforce developer registration for app installations on Android-certified devices starting next year. This initiative will restrict installations to verified developers, impacting platforms like F-Droid that prioritize user privacy and do not require user accounts. Marc Prud'hommeaux, a board member of F-Droid, expressed concerns that these changes could dismantle the project, as F-Droid cannot comply with Google's registration requirements without compromising its mission. Google defends its initiative as a measure to protect users from malware, citing that sideloaded apps have a higher incidence of malware compared to those in the Play Store. However, Prud'hommeaux argues that F-Droid's open-source nature allows for public audits, highlighting security incidents in the Play Store. F-Droid, founded in 2010, operates as a non-profit initiative that facilitates the installation of open-source Android applications, ensuring thorough review and tamper-proof distribution. The project also informs users about potential drawbacks of apps, while the overall Android ecosystem has become increasingly controlled by Google, with recent changes to the Android Open Source Project indicating a shift towards a more closed model.
AppWizard
June 3, 2025
Recent developments in browser technology have raised concerns about user privacy and data tracking by companies like Meta and Yandex. In response, several Android browsers are enhancing user privacy by blocking abusive JavaScript linked to web trackers. DuckDuckGo has implemented measures to block domains and IP addresses associated with trackers, preventing the transmission of identifiers to Meta and restricting access to Yandex Metrica. Following feedback, DuckDuckGo's developers updated their blacklist to include missing addresses. The Brave browser uses extensive blocklists to prevent identifier sharing and blocks requests to localhost without user consent. Vivaldi forwards identifiers to local Android ports by default but allows users to adjust settings to block trackers. Researchers warn that these solutions may not be foolproof and emphasize the ongoing challenge of maintaining effective blocklists. Chrome and most other Chromium-based browsers execute JavaScript as intended by Meta and Yandex, while Firefox has faced challenges with SDP munging and has not yet announced plans to address this behavior.
Search