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Russia bans Viber, claiming app facilitates terrorism and drug trafficking

Category Details
Threat Actors Russian government and its internet regulator, Roskomnadzor.
Campaign Overview Blocked access to Viber, citing alleged involvement in terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and illegal content distribution.
Target Regions (Victims) Viber users in Russia (over 17 million daily users).
Methodology Banning access to foreign tech services, imposing fines, and pressuring tech companies to comply with censorship laws.
Product Targeted Viber (popular messaging app), with potential future targeting of WhatsApp, Telegram, and other messaging platforms.
Malware Reference Not applicable.
Tools Used Internet censorship, fines, restrictions on foreign platforms, threats to block VPNs.
Vulnerabilities Exploited Exploitation of foreign platforms’ dependency on the Russian market, using legal and regulatory pressure to enforce compliance.
TTPs Broad crackdown on foreign tech services, targeting popular apps for their alleged use in illegal activities, censorship, blocking access to platforms, and promoting domestic alternatives like Runet.
Attribution Actions attributed to Roskomnadzor and broader Russian government strategy to control information flow and isolate the internet (Runet development).
Recommendations Monitor changes in Russian internet policies, ensure compliance with local laws where possible, explore alternative communication methods (e.g., VPNs), and assess risks for other messaging platforms operating in Russia.
Source The Record

Read full article: https://therecord.media/russia-bans-viber-terrorism-trafficking

The above summary has been generated by an AI language model

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Source: The Record

Published on: December 16, 2024

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