Russia Launches Pilot Program to Fight Phishing Websites

A new initiative aims to block fraudulent websites that mimic government and corporate domains to steal user data.

Russia has launched a pilot project to combat phishing websites—malicious platforms designed to harvest users’ personal data by mimicking official domains. According to the federal government’s press service, the project is set to develop a robust mechanism for identifying and blocking such deceptive websites and mobile apps. These fake domains are often visually similar to legitimate websites of government agencies, major corporations, or banks.

The initiative also includes testing new collaboration models between key governmental bodies involved in cybersecurity. Following the pilot, the participants aim to propose legal measures to institutionalize the updated practices.

The program brings together the Ministry of Digital Development, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Tax Service, Rospatent, the Bank of Russia, and the Prosecutor General’s Office. The pilot phase is scheduled for completion by March 1, 2026.