Samsung removes support page that showed how to sandbox Russia’s state-backed Max app
Samsung published a support page showing users how to isolate apps, using Russia’s state-backed messaging app Max as an example.
The post, titled “How to install apps or messengers in the Knox Folder on Samsung Galaxy?”, was flagged by the Telegram channel Yozh, though Samsung had published the tutorial in late March.
In the post, Samsung explained how moving apps into Knox can isolate data and “create a ‘second phone’ inside the device.”
“This guarantees maximum privacy for personal data and conversations, password/biometric protection, separation of work and personal life (you can use a second account), and additional data encryption,” Samsung said.
The tutorial included illustrations showing Max being “isolated” as an example. After journalists drew attention to the post, Samsung removed the images featuring the “national” messenger. The earlier version of the page was preserved in an internet archive.
Russia’s state-backed messaging app Max is marketed as “Russia’s national messenger” and is operated by VK. The app has drawn criticism over the potential for user surveillance, security vulnerabilities, and various attempts by Russian authorities to push it on users.
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