In Russia, about 170 VPN services were blocked in two years

Center for Monitoring and Management of Public Communications Network (TsMU SSOP, subordinate to Roskomnadzor) reported about blocking almost 170 VPN services from 2021

The agency blocked 167 services and 84 applications, and in 2023, access was limited to more than 2,000 phishing sites and more than 20 control and distribution centers for malicious software (software), the representative office added.

“We are working quite closely with regulators in the field of information security to block malicious sites. These are phishing resources, and resources that participate in information wars against the Russian Federation, and services for bypassing blocking,” said the director of the center, Sergei Khutortsev, his words were quoted by the press service.

October 3, member of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Artem Sheikin statedthat Roskomnadzor will be able to block all VPN services in application stores from March 1, 2024.

Representative of Roskomnadzor explained Vedomosti reports that the department will have the right to independently make decisions on blocking services that disseminate information about methods of bypassing blocking of content prohibited in Russia. Now this right is reserved for the Prosecutor General’s Office and the courts.