Are there Security Vulnerabilities in Telegram?
Telegram is a well known messaging application which thrives on user privacy and secure communication. Of course, it's as vulnerable as any digital platform, so doing so is itself a security risk. This is important to know for any user of Telegram for personal communication and business. The most crucial security threats on Telegram with some practical tips for protection
1. Partial End-to-End Encryption Unlike with other messaging app which enables end-to-end encryption by default for all the messages you sent, Telegram only provide this level of encryption in their "Secret Chats" feature. End-to-end encrypted for 1:1 chats and group messages are onlyencrypted between the client and the server. This means that the messages are stored in a format which can be retrieved from the server side, and makes a security threat if the servers are compromised.
2. Telegram uses cloud storage This is so that the user can get his messages on his various devices. It means that while it is convenient, any of these messages that are no longer needed are stored well past their welcome on Telegram's servers. This centralization can leads to hacking attacks on storage point or any government depot or surveillance.
3. User Privacy Telegram requires a phone number to register an account, which means that while a user is posting anonymously on the site, they are doing so through tied to their real life identity. This is the aspect that can be exploited with SIM Swapping attacks, with an attacker snatching a phone number to enter a Telegram account.
4. Third-Party Apps and Bots Telegram provides open APIs to allow developers to add third-party apps and bots. However, this opens the door to security exploits, as they may not be as secure as the application we are paying for, and at the same time, the security of application data can be handled maliciously.
5. 4. Capturing a user’s session-specific QR code on Telegram Image: SAHIL…Medium Image Source: CoinZodiaC — Blockchain, Cryptocurrency Trending News Magazine In that case, if your device was accessed by somebody who scanned the QR code - they can easily hijack your Telegram session on another device. Moreover, due to the fact that Telegram does not make great use of automatic logout systems, unauthorized users could theoretically keep using the account for days on end without the permission of the account holder.
6. Phishing & Scams Because Telegram is a popular platform, users are targeted constantly by phishing scams These messages are often made to look legitimate, but are in fact hacks aimed to steal user identities, gain access to restricted systems, or download malware.
7. Finally, Telegram also leaks metadata The content of messages is encrypted, but metadata like contact lists and, in some cases, times of communication and IP addresses are not. As this last known address is publicly available, there is a fear that this information could be shared with third parties, raising privacy issues.
If you want a deeper dive into these problems as well as recommendations for making security on Telegram better read more at telegram 安全
To sum up, Telegram may have certain attributes that are enabled to safeguard user privacy and data, but there are lots of breaches as well. To protect the chats and the ecosystem, the company also said, consumers must understand these risks and exercise measures to secure their conversations, including using secret messaging for private conversations, being wary about third-party apps that could tap into the chats, and beware of phishing and other tactics. So, by knowing and resolving these security issues, users can reduce their security risk while using Telegram.