# Researchers find Russia-backed Max can secretly alter surveillance of individual users

https://mins.news/en/item/72409

- Meduza, 2026-09-24 13:40 UTC
- Tech
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/09/24/russia-s-state-backed-messaging-app-max-can-secretly-change-how-it-surveils-individual-users-researchers-at-interseclab-find

> Digital security lab InterSecLab says VK’s Kremlin-backed Max messenger can enable surveillance features for individual accounts without an app update or interface change. The app lacks end-to-end encryption, can access correspondence, uploads address books unencrypted, collects network data, and may provide new users with curated channels from state media and pro-war commentators.