Russia bans the use of iPhones and iPads in ministries from ``concerns about spying by the United States''

British economic newspaper Financial Times reports that Russian authorities have ordered government officials to ban the use of Apple devices such as iPhones and iPads. Russia's Ministry of Trade has banned the use of iPhones for all 'business uses', and similar directives have already been implemented or will soon be implemented by other agencies, including Russia's Ministry of Telecommunications and Mass Media. It is planned to

Thousands of Russian officials to give up iPhones over US spying fears | Financial Times
https://www.ft.com/content/6567e7f2-c5fb-4da4-bd95-bf7ceef54038

Russia bans state officials from using Apple devices over US spying concerns
https://www.engadget.com/russia-bans-state-officials-from-using-apple-devices-over-us-spying-concerns-183732151.html

Russia launched a military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, causing companies around the world to stop shipping products or providing services to Russia. Apple is also one of the companies that participated in the sanctions against Russia, which stopped exporting iPhones and iPads to Russia.

Apple stops selling products in Russia, stops distributing Russian media news applications and disables map traffic information - GIGAZINE

In early June, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed to have caught ``espionage activities by US intelligence agencies using Apple devices.'' According to the FSB, thousands of iPhones, including those used by NATO diplomatic missions, were 'infected' with surveillance software. The FSB also unsubstantiated allegations that Apple worked closely with U.S. intelligence agencies to provide agents with 'easy-to-use control tools.' Apple denies the allegations, saying, ``We have never worked with governments to build backdoors into Apple products, and never will.''

``Apple cooperated with the US government to spy on Russia,'' the Russian Federal Security Agency claims, ``Apple devices are spyware heaven''-GIGAZINE

In the wake of this incident, the FSB has banned officials and employees from using Apple devices such as iPhones and iPads. Russia's Ministry of Trade has announced that from July 17th it will ``prohibit the use of iPhones for work purposes'', and other ministries such as the Ministry of Digital Development will follow suit.

According to people close to government agencies, access to iPhones and iPads has already been banned or is about to be banned at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Energy. However, since Apple devices are popular in Russia, some officials complain that they have to carry another mobile phone or tablet PC for work purposes.

'The FSB genuinely believes Americans can be eavesdropped on Apple devices,' said Russian security expert Andrei Soldatov. I have never been restricted because I was just against restrictions.'

Alexei Lukatsky, a Russian cybersecurity expert, points out that the FSB is considering switching official mobile devices from Sailfish OS to devices equipped with Russian-made OS `` Aurora '' forked. Until now, there were restrictions on the use of email on Aurora-equipped devices, so none of the officials tried to use it. But if the use of Apple devices is banned, officials may reluctantly switch to Aurora-powered devices.

``There have long been restrictions on exchanging business emails on devices that have not been certified by the FSB, but most officials did not comply. But how many will follow now?'' increase.