The GosMessendzher or “State Messenger” app will allow officials to intercept any messages sent JONATHAN BRADY/PARussia is designing a secure messaging app for government officials to use on mobile phones amid a crackdown on commercial services such as Whatsapp and Telegram. The Kremlin is worried that private conversations could be hacked if data is stored on foreign servers. The security agencies also want the ability to break encryption if they wish to monitor officials’ online communications. German Klimenko, President Putin’s adviser on internet issues, said that almost all senior officials used Telegram, the encrypted messenger designed by a Russian entrepreneur, Pavel Durov. The security services have added to pressure on the app, saying that it…

Source: The Times July 26, 2017 23:02 UTC