Topic
App Store
T-Bank Masks New iOS Banking App as K8CHEN PRO to Bypass Sanctions
Policy & Regulation
Multiple Ozon Apps Removed from Google Play Following Sanctions on Ozon Bank
Policy & Regulation
Yandex Pay App Permanently Removed from App Store Across All Regions Due to Sanctions
Policy & RegulationSpyware-Laden Modified iOS Apps Distributed via Russian Telegram Channel, Kaspersky Discovers
Kaspersky researchers have identified modified versions of popular iOS applications that are being distributed through a Russian-language Telegram channel and contain a malicious spying module. The infected apps include a marketplace platform for selling goods, a photo editor, and a video viewing service, all offered as ad-free versions with extra free features. Attackers embed the spyware directly into legitimate IPA files, while some clean apps simply promote the same channel to funnel users toward the malicious downloads. Installation requires users to obtain a developer certificate and sign the app using tools such as eSign or Scarlet, or to sideload via a computer or jailbroken device, completely bypassing the App Store. Once launched, the malware collects device name, battery level, regional settings, memory information, jailbreak status, geolocation, carrier code, and screenshots before sending the data to the attackers, although it stops when the app is closed. Kaspersky advises users to obtain applications only from official stores or verified developer websites rather than random Telegram sources.
Telegram Briefly Removed from App Store After Apple Detects Child Sexual Abuse Material
Telegram was temporarily pulled from the App Store in multiple countries after Apple moderators identified content linked to child sexual abuse. The removal lasted roughly 20 minutes before the app was reinstated following Telegram's quick removal of the prohibited material and blocking of the responsible user. Apple cited strict App Store rules as the reason for the action. During the outage, already-installed copies continued to function normally while the app remained available via the Mac App Store and Google Play. Telegram responded on X with the quote “Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated” before Apple issued its official explanation. This marks at least the third documented instance of Telegram facing App Store removal, including a 2018 incident over unacceptable content and a 2024 removal from the Chinese store at the request of local regulators.
Telegram Bug Floods iPhones with Fake Notifications, Causing Severe Overheating and Battery Drain
A persistent bug in the Telegram messaging app has been causing iOS devices to overheat dramatically and rapidly drain their batteries by spamming hundreds of false push notifications in the background. The issue triggers constant English-language alerts reading "You have a new message" even when users have Russian language settings enabled and message previews turned off, rendering the notifications useless. Reports of the problem first emerged in May but intensified after the release of Telegram version 12.9, which appears to create an infinite loop in background processes that overworks the CPU. Affected users report battery losses of up to 11 percent within 30 minutes of idle time, with some devices becoming hot enough that Apple automatically pauses charging until temperatures drop. One journalist resorted to using a gaming controller with a built-in fan to keep an iPhone cool enough to charge. The only temporary workaround involves clearing the app cache and performing a full reinstall from the App Store, though the bug has been known to return after one or two weeks for some users.
Russian Users Report Widespread App Store Outages as Roskomnadzor Denies Any Role in Restricting Access
Russian users began experiencing technical problems with the App Store starting early in the day, with the monitoring service Sboy.rf receiving 251 complaints about instability and failed downloads. The majority of reports originated from Moscow, accounting for 20 percent of cases, followed by Saint Petersburg at 13 percent and several other regions including Udmurtia, Kursk, Rostov, Bryansk oblasts and Stavropol Krai each contributing 5 percent. Affected users described inconsistent behavior of the App Store application itself along with difficulties downloading games and other software, where the Get button would appear but actual downloads would succeed only sporadically. In response to the growing number of reports, Roskomnadzor quickly issued a brief statement clarifying that it is not imposing any restrictions on access to the App Store. The exact cause of the disruptions remains unknown, Apple has not provided any official comment, and the scale of the incident is considered limited since only several hundred users have reported issues and not everyone is affected. Standard troubleshooting steps such as verifying internet connectivity, restarting the App Store application, and waiting for service restoration have been recommended to users.