Russian Messenger MAX Takes Down Millions of Malicious Files
Over the course of a month, security specialists also helped detain several cyber fraudsters.
Security specialists at the Russian messaging platform MAX destroyed more than 2.2 million malicious files in January 2026, the company said. During the same period, the platform’s security center blocked 230 suspicious accounts following user complaints.
Another 25,000 malicious files — designed to steal personal data or enable remote access to users’ smartphones — were prevented from being delivered to users.
Protecting Savings
Working alongside law-enforcement agencies, MAX’s security team helped solve three cybercrime cases and detain four fraudsters. The suspects had been deceiving victims over an extended period. Seventeen people were warned in time about potentially dangerous transactions, preventing losses of more than 22 million rubles (about $240,000).
MAX has recently strengthened its infrastructure security using the Vkay service. Access to the company’s internal systems is now granted to employees only via biometric authentication, effectively ruling out remote takeovers or data theft. The MAX messenger has already been installed by more than 85 million users. The company positions it not only as a communication tool but as a broader digital platform for accessing information and services.
