Telegram is a secure messaging app that launched in 2013. The platform offers end-to-end encryption on video, text, and audio messages, providing a bit more protection than your average messaging app, particularly considering the company is based in Dubai.
However, in the last week, the CEO of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has been arrested and charged in France for the crimes that have taken place on his messaging app. So many are asking, is Telegram still safe?
In this guide, you’ll learn about the security measures that Telegram takes to encrypt your messages, whether the case against the CEO will impact the functionality of the app, and give you some tips for avoiding Telegram scams in the future.
Is Telegram Safe?
As far as being a secure messaging app, yes, Telegram is safe. It offers end-to-end encryption by default for video and voice calls and provides it in optional private chats called Secret Chats.
End-to-end encryption is generally the gold standard for any kind of security measures, allowing only the communicators to view the data, not the provider.
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To be clear, though, that doesn’t mean you are going to get total and complete protection from official agencies every time. In fact, just a few years ago Telegram was found to be providing user information to authorities, so there’s never a 100% guarantee.
What About the CEO Getting Arrested?
We’ll be the first to admit that when the CEO of a messaging app gets arrested, it’s safe to question the security of the experience. Still, in this case, it doesn’t seem like the arrest will have any notable impact on the end-to-end encryption status of the messages and calls on Telegram.
Durov was charged in France due to the crimes that have been committed on the Telegram app by others, like drug trafficking, online scams, and child pornography. It’s a rare move, considering most tech entrepreneurs have been able to skirt this kind of accountability for the majority of the 21st century.
Still, some are pushing back on this kind of arrest, like Elon Musk demanding his release via X. And of course, his lawyer gave a defensive statement to that effect:
“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.” – David-Olivier Kaminski, Durov’s attorney
How to Avoid Telegram Scams
Just because Telegram is a safe app when it comes to securing your messages, doesn’t mean there aren’t some nefarious activities going on that you should be aware of. In fact, there are a few Telegram scams out there that could cause you some serious issues, so listen up!
First off, always be suspicious of unsolicited messages. If someone is reaching out to you via Telegram and you have no way of confirming who it is, there is likely a scam involved. Even if it’s an alleged “customer service representative,” do your best to check out the personal information of people you’re talking to before you do anything rash.
Another good rule is to simply never share important information on Telegram, particularly with strangers, but also with people you think you know. There are some convincing impersonation scams out there, and you don’t want to get caught sending credit card information to a bot.
Overall, the best advice is to be skeptical. Even a quick glance at most scams will help you avoid them, and Telegram is no different.
