Telegram's security questioned as privacy claims fall short
Telegram is one of the most popular internet messengers, known, among other things, for its advanced privacy features. However, the application appears to be less secure than one might expect.
Telegram is a widely used Internet messenger that allows users to send text messages, multimedia messages, and voice and video calls. Users also appreciate its simplicity, speed, and wide availability on various devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers.
The application gained popularity due to advanced privacy features such as end-to-end encryption and the ability to create large groups and channels. Recently, Tucker Carlson interviewed Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov. The conversation may suggest that the application is not as secure as it seems.
is Telegram really not that secure?
Durov admitted that he is the company's only product manager and employs around 30 full-time engineers. However, experts have questioned the platform's security with such few specialists.
Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation and an experienced expert in high-risk user security, pointed out in an interview with TechCrunch the extensive functionality of the platform and its limited number of personnel.
"What makes Telegram different (and much worse!) is that Telegram is not just a messaging app, it is also a social media platform. As a social media platform, it is sitting on an enormous amount of user data. Indeed, it is sitting on the contents of all communications that are not one-on-one messages that have been specifically [end-to-end] encrypted," Galperin told TechCrunch. "‘Thirty engineers’ means that there is no one to fight legal requests, there is no infrastructure for dealing with abuse and content moderation issues."
"And I would even argue that the quality of those 30 engineers isn't that great," Galperin continued. "Also, if I was a threat actor, I would definitely consider this to be encouraging news. Every attacker loves a profoundly understaffed and overworked opponent."
