Anonymous messengers: review, features and specifications

From January 1 of the current year in Russia came into force a law banning software called anonymous messengers. Definitely a step absolutely unprecedented. The adoption of such a law has caused clearly mixed reactions from numerous users of this type. Why was this decision made, what are these programs, what their capabilities are or what's wrong with the country's leadership such application, then and offers to sort out.

What are anonymous messengers?

To start is to grasp the essence of the work of this software. Why apps for instant messaging in real time are called anonymous? Yes, because they do not require identification of a user given his real personal data.

Anonymous messengers after the adoption of the ban will necessarily register users by phone number to which in turn, attaches full information about the owner. But, if you look, anonymous can call and popular messenger that is used for forwarding messages to social network Facebook. At the moment, because the registration though will require you to enter your mobile phone number, however, is only possible with a confirmation email. Thus, this software is, in theory, should fall under the jurisdiction of the law.

On the other hand, many well-known programs for operating systems Android and iOS like Snapchat Ping, Telegram and others will actually be attached to mobile numbers. But if everything is simple?

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Why Russia banned anonymous messengers?

It is believed that the law should promote security. The first reason why the ban was imposed, is the fact that quite often in programs of this type can meet different kinds of terrorists and terrorist groups. After all, how the program works?

Messages can not be saved, and deleted immediately after reading. For example, in Telegram you can customize the so-called secret chat or set a timer for the destruction of correspondence. Thus, to track the communication between attackers is just not possible. And this leads to the fact that the same terrorist acts in advance to prevent it will not succeed. In this respect, the ban on anonymous messaging apps in Russia does not cause problems.

On the other hand, I'm sure many have noticed that in applications to communication can often find a huge amount of spam and annoying ads in the form of regular newsletters. Here, too, no questions. However, if any entrepreneur trying to advertise your product or services by sending out informative messages, then why not? I think, nothing wrong with that.

How it is technically possible to ban?

But let's see whether it is possible to implement a complete ban on anonymous messengers of any type. The problem is not so much impossible, how expensive. If you look at the prohibitions of Russian resources in the same Ukraine, even blocking services, search engines and social networks at the level of the providers nor to no avail. Users quite elementary bypass the lock using the VPN client.

To implement a powerful firewall at the state level, according to experts, may need about two billion dollars, and no such money. And this is just Ukraine. But in Russia the population is many times more.

This is China and North Korea did not spare funds for such sanctions. In these countries, does not help even a VPN. IT professionals learn to filter unwanted traffic that is not helping anything, and the access to many of the world's resources is completely blocked, not to mention considered anonymous messengers. So Russia to carry out such tasks need too much financial investments.

Prerequisites for use of instant messengers and ways to circumvent the law

But there is a flip side to the coin. By and large, a ban on anonymous messaging applies only to software that is officially registered in Russia. All other programs under the act do not fall.

In the explanatory note to the bill was given a very vague wording, which stated that its action is directed strictly to Internet users received accurate information and were protected from different types of fraud that are prohibited or inappropriate content.

As for the conditions of use of such programs, on the one hand, every developer of such a product is obliged to make mandatory the registration of the mobile number on the other – the user must confirm your registration regarding your mobile number.

But at the moment, despite the ban of anonymous messengers in Russia, to circumvent the law is completely just. It is no secret that almost every large city you can easily buy “left” SIM card which is not tied to user data. Just as easy to buy a SIM card in another country (in Ukraine, for example), where in the connection process to specify personal data is not necessary. In Ukraine, passport details will be required only in case of restoration or replacement of cards. And how to deal with such phenomena, the government had not yet been invented.

Penalties for unauthorized use of instant messengers

After Russia introduced a ban on anonymous messaging, immediately the question arose about the punishment for violating the law. In particular, this applies to administrative penalties that are imposed on all users, whether a natural or legal person.

For ordinary citizens is a penalty in the amount of 3-5 thousand rubles for civil servants and officials-30-50 thousand, for legal entities-from 800 thousand to one million. While individual entrepreneurs may be fined a million as they fall into the category of legal entities. Anonymous use of instant messaging, as is clear, is punished, but the official use number, as provided by law, shall remain exclusively in the territory of the Russian Federation.

It is Incomprehensible question downloading apps. Well, do not forbid Google Play, where many programs of this type are laid out in free access?

Fines on developers will also be superimposed, especially if not the requirement to limit the transmission of messages at the request of state agencies (Roskomnadzor), in case of detection of transmission of illegal information.

Legal aspect of the issue of the ban

In terms of international law this innovation you can bet. As if Russia tried to remain a democratic government, the adoption of this law is clearly reminiscent of China and North Korea. Then there's the problem that various security organisations trying to take control of all users of such programs.

This does not hold water because of personal correspondence, roughly speaking, you can forget. And in the case of suspected transmission of illegal information one just fine no longer get off.

What about privacy?

Finally, many users quite rightly are concerned about privacy. It turns out that the security forces will have full access to the correspondence?

Although it is stated that information to third parties would not be handed over under any circumstances, it looks very doubtful.

What?

It turns out the situation is that the anonymous messengers in Russia is to use not so much unprofitable, many unsafe because you can easily be on the hook in the security services. Fines – this is not the worst that can be, but if you are interested in, say, the FSB, you can be in a very difficult situation.