AntiMalware•August 15, 2026•🇷🇺Translated from Russian

Multiple Ozon Apps Removed from Google Play Following Sanctions on Ozon Bank

Several Android applications from Ozon have disappeared from Google Play, leaving users without access to the main marketplace client and related services through the official store.

The removed apps include Ozon Fresh, Ozon Seller, Ozon Job and Ozon Travel. Ozon confirmed that it had not breached Google Play policies, but the company has not disclosed the precise reasons behind the decision.

Owners of Android devices are now advised to obtain the applications from alternative official stores such as RuStore, AppGallery and Galaxy Store. Searching for APK files on random websites is strongly discouraged due to potential security threats.

The removals follow the earlier disappearance of the Ozon Bank application from Google Play after the bank was targeted by European Union sanctions. No official link between the sanctions and the broader app removals has been established so far.

Meanwhile, Apple users can still download Ozon applications via the App Store. The recent purge also affected the payment service Yandex Pay, which was removed from the App Store.

Already installed applications typically remain operational, yet users may encounter problems with updates and reinstallation after removal from the store. Ozon services continue to be available through other app stores and the web version.

Related articles

AntiMalware•Policy & Regulation

Rostelecom Calls for 'Doomsday' Data Centers to Counter Drone Attacks and Infrastructure Risks

Rostelecom executive Valery Ermakov has urged Russian companies to build geographically distributed backup data centers, dubbed 'doomsday' facilities, to ensure service recovery after site losses. The recommendation follows drone strikes that disabled three Yandex data centers in Sasovo, Kaluga, and Vladimir, disrupting both internal services and Yandex Cloud clients. Ermakov explained that previous centralized infrastructure, built for economic efficiency, is no longer viable under changed threat models that now include physical attacks previously considered unthinkable. He advocated a micro-cellular architecture with services spread across many sites connected by high-speed links, while warning that Russian backbone networks are overloaded and much fiber optic infrastructure dates back 20-30 years. Rostelecom positioned its TEA NEXT line running from Kaliningrad to Mongolia as a source of additional capacity to address potential backbone shortages. Yandex responded to the incidents by accelerating client data migration to partner cloud providers.

AntiMalware•Policy & Regulation

Russian Firms Accelerate Cybersecurity Strategy Adoption as Risk Reduction Emerges as Top Priority

A recent AM Live broadcast survey reveals that Russian small, medium, and large companies are increasingly developing information security strategies, with the share of organizations actively working on them rising from 9% to 28% year-over-year. The primary goal cited for 2027 is risk reduction and financial loss mitigation, selected by 78% of respondents compared to 55% previously. Key barriers have shifted, with insufficient source data now affecting 64% of companies and lack of top-management buy-in rising to 43%. Experts including Yaroslav Napalkov from MTS Bank and Nikolay Kazantsev from Securitm emphasized the need for risk-oriented approaches, three-year planning horizons with annual reviews, and early engagement with CEOs and stakeholders. Only 16% of firms have fully operationalized their strategies with metrics and cyber exercises, while personnel shortages remain the leading constraint at 59%.

AntiMalware•Policy & Regulation

VK Shares Rise 7.62% as Market Assesses Data Center Developments and Yandex Cloud Challenges

VK shares climbed sharply on October 12, reaching a peak increase of 7.62% to 134.2 rubles before moderating to a 6.6% gain at 132.95 rubles by evening. Analysts from Freedom Global linked the movement partly to the Ministry of Digital Development's announcement of joint measures with the Ministry of Defense to protect Russian data centers. Other observers at Finam suggested investors were pricing in potential client shifts from Yandex Cloud to competitors such as VK Cloud, which has already begun accelerated infrastructure placement for affected Yandex customers. The surge was also attributed to broader capital rotation away from the energy sector toward previously lagging technology stocks. While the confirmed price movement is clear, the exact drivers remain analytical interpretations rather than verified revenue impacts. The episode highlights how regulatory and infrastructure news can quickly influence valuations in the Russian cloud services market.

Habr•Policy & Regulation

Passphrases vs. Leetspeak Passwords: Why Four Random Words Outperform P@ssw0rd!2026

The article explains why a passphrase made of four randomly selected words provides far greater resistance to offline attacks than a complex-looking password constructed with substitutions and appended symbols. It details how password strength is measured in bits of entropy rather than visual complexity, showing that four words drawn from a 50,000-word list yield approximately 62 bits while common leetspeak transformations add almost none. The piece contrasts fast legacy hashing with modern slow algorithms such as Argon2 and emphasizes the protective effect of per-password salting. It criticizes registration forms that reward predictable patterns and highlights NIST guidance favoring length over mandatory character rotation. The author recommends diceware-style generation for master passwords and password managers for everything else, noting that passkeys ultimately eliminate the need for memorizable secrets altogether.