1/ Russia's privacy-violating Max app reportedly automatically installs itself on Samsung phones, Russian users are being offered money to give it five-star reviews on app stores, and the Russian government has ordered its installation on all new phones from 1 September 2025. ⬇️
2/ The Russian government is positioning Max as an authorised replacement for WhatsApp and Telegram, but investigators have found that the app systematically violates its users' privacy (see thread below). https://x.com/ChrisO_wiki/stat...
3/ Max is currently relatively highly rated in official app stores (4.4 on Google Play Store, 4.5 on the Apple App Store). However this is being inflated by a bounty scheme on the QComment site paying up to 15.7 rubles ($0.19) per five-star rating.
4/ QComment is a Russian fake reviews marketplace that pays bounties for positive ratings. Russian companies typically use it to generate glowing "astroturf" reviews of their products and services. It claims to have generated over 66 million reviews.
5/ The bounty for Max reviews is one of the highest currently on offer on QComment. It's likely that a significant amount of money is being spent on the bounty scheme. The app already has 25 times more five-star reviews than Google Meet.
6/ Genuine reviews are often negative. Users complain that the app is slow, audio quality is poor, and that it violates their privacy. Samsung users report that the app automatically installs itself on their phones, supposedly through the Galaxy Store, where it is not listed.
7/ Meanwhile, the Russian government has announced that the app must be pre-installed on all new phones sold in Russia from 1 September 2025. It will replace the existing VK Messenger app, which is currently mandated for pre-installation. /end
@ChrisO_wiki They are so fooked
Exclusive Report: Shipments of engines, cylinders, pistons, and electronics are pouring from China into Alabuga, fueling Russia’s Shahed production. Frontelligence Insight analyzed export data, closed reports, and open sources, revealing the scale of support. 🧵Thread:
The Russians probably wanted to film a touching video at the cemetery. But, as always, something didn’t quite go according to plan.
It is so wild watching American media and listening to the conversations because the news people have no understanding of Ukraine or Russia at all. They genuinely believe that a ceasefire is the path, and they do not understand that the ceasefire is being used to trap Putin.
Russian Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery burning intensively on the morning after the attack.