Over the past two days, the spotlight has been on Russia's traffic filtering system, commonly referred to as "Cheburnet." Several materials appeared at once that help understand how Cheburnet works and what may change in the coming years.
The most detailed explanation is a lengthy article on Habr about TSPU. The author breaks down in simple terms how the equipment installed in operators' networks works. He divides Cheburnet into two types: "dumb" (by IP address, port, or traffic type) and "smart" (when the system analyzes the content of a connection, such as the site name in an encrypted request). The article also explains how to circumvent such blocks using tunnels and special programs that disguise traffic. An important takeaway for users: there is no single "magic button," and what works with one provider may not work with another.
The second material is news that the Ministry of Digital Development is discussing the use of neural networks to block VPNs. Artificial intelligence is supposedly able to detect VPN connections even if they constantly change IP addresses. At the same time, corporate networks, cloud services, and even regular calls could fall under restrictions. They plan to spend 89 billion rubles on cybersecurity in 2026–2029, and a significant portion of that money will go toward traffic filtering. For XConnect users, this is a signal: Cheburnet methods will become more complex, and connection stability may decrease.
The third topic is new requirements for 5G smartphones. The Ministry of Digital Development has prepared a draft order that would oblige such devices to support the Russian cryptographic algorithm "Kuznechik." The requirement is set to take effect on March 1, 2032, but it is already clear that manufacturers will have to adapt devices to Russian encryption standards. For the average user, this means that in the future the choice of smartphones may become narrower and prices may rise.
In addition, over the past two days there was a large-scale outage at Rostelecom: thousands of users in various regions were left without home internet. The causes have not been disclosed, but such incidents remind us that network availability depends not only on Cheburnet but also on the technical state of infrastructure.
Also worth noting is the news that a Paris court refused to fine Cloudflare, Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton for incomplete Cheburnet of pirated streams. The court recognized that the providers made "reasonable efforts" and declined to demand a 100% result. Although this event took place outside Russia, it shows how Cheburnet disputes are resolved in other countries.
Finally, the materials include a review of the NetFix Mobile app for Android, which automates the setup of Cheburnet for YouTube, Discord, and Telegram. It does not invent new methods but manages existing open-source tools. And there is news that Amnezia VPN celebrated six years and 15 million downloads, continuing to develop its AmneziaWG protocol.
Overall, the main takeaway for XConnect users: filtering systems are becoming more complex, and relying on a single Cheburnet method is no longer enough. It is important to follow updates and choose tools that have proven effective in your network.