Launched back in 2013 , Telegram quickly gained grip among power users and became their go - to IM ( Instant Messaging ) app . Withrivals like WhatsApp , Viber , and Facebook Messenger , Telegram focalize on certificate , cross - platform availability , and rapid development of the ware with unique feature such as bot , TV channel , hush-hush chat , etc .
With the late fiasco around WhatsApp ’s privacy policy , alternatives like Telegram and Signal received a immense encouragement in term of raw users . peculiarly , Telegram which recently reached themilestone of 500 million usersacross the world . Let ’s sympathize why is it so special and is it deserving interchange to ?
What Is Telegram
Founded by Russian Pavel Durov , who ’s also behind Russia ’s heavy societal web VKontakte ( VK ) , Telegram claims to fuse the velocity of WhatApp with Snapchat ’s ephemerality .
Unlike WhatsApp and Signal , Telegram is a in truth cloud - based cross - platform solution . You do n’t need your phone to expend Telegram on the screen background . It ’s uncommitted on all platforms including iOS , Android , Windows , Mac , Linux , and Web . Simply ratify in using your mobile number and all your chat , media , and file are flop there without any transferee process . come from WhatsApp , it ’s one of the best features of Telegram for me .
Why Is Telegram Special
The list of features does n’t end here . Telegram trumps other competitor in a number of ways . Let ’s take a look at all the tending - grabbing features .
Enough about features and get ’s blab out about the big marketing head of Telegram in the first place – Security and Privacy .
How Secure Is Telegram?
Telegram ’s distinctive feature article is security . It claims that all its action including chat , groups , and media partake between participants are inscribe . This means that they wo n’t be seeable without being deciphered first . The app also lets you set ego - destruct timers on messages and spiritualist that you share . It can range from two seconds to one week through its build - in feature film ‘ Secret Chat ’ .
Telegram provides oddment - to - terminal encryption using its own proprietary messaging communications protocol called “ MTProto ” . It is worth noting that it is not entirely exposed - source and lacks scrutiny from outside cryptanalyst .
Telegram also copies your address book to their servers , which is how you receive notifications when someone link the political platform . It also does not soundly encrypt all metadata . Moreover , researchers at MITfound that a hacker could nail down to the second when a drug user goes online or offline .
Can Government Force Telegram to Handover User Data
Telegram is ending - to - end encrypted butunlike Signal , the company also holds the encoding key with itself . The practice has put the caller in many contestation in the past times .
Because it ’s centered around substance abuser privacy and security measure , Telegram has been thego - to choice for terroristsand anti - government militant to divvy up information .
Bask in 2017 , Russia ’s communication theory regulator had demanded Telegram flex over information about the messaging app and the company behind it or risk being blocked . Founder Pavel Durov tell that Telegram had also been asked to give the Russian political science access to decrypt user messages , all in the name of enchant terrorist .
Thecontroversy lead to Russia jam Telegramin the household state . The company later on came up with a raw privacy policy that states , “ If Telegram receives a court order that confirm you ’re a holy terror suspect , we may break your IP address and phone number to the relevant authorization . ” Russian authorities afterwards reverted the determination .
In May 2018 , Telegram got caught in the Iranian government activity ’s crosshair . The country ban the appon the hunch that it was being used for armed rising in the country .
In scant , there have been various attempts from political science around the world to give over user encryption keys to authorities . Telegram has , so far , refused to comply with any of them .
How to Use Telegram
As I mentioned above , Telegram is available on all mobile and desktop political platform . Download the app from your preferred weapons platform and start using the service of process with your peregrine phone number .
Telegram will ask for Contacts permission on the phone and it will synchronise all the contacts that are currently using the service .
Speaking of media experience , interactive prickle play a major role in the Telegram experience . you’re able to easily download third - company stickers from the vane and from the Telegram store .
Telegram will also apprise you whenever anyone from your physical contact lean joins the political platform . Sometimes , it ’s practiced to know but repetitive behavior due to the current charge can become irritating for users .
Pro pourboire : afford the Telegram preferences and navigate to Notifications and Sounds > New Contacts and turn off the toggle switch . You wo n’t receive notifications every clip a raw user joins the weapons platform now which can be annoying .
Are You Using Telegram
There is no doubt that why Telegram is get democratic among drug user . The service is cloud - based , cross - platform , packed with tons of feature article , and on top of that , it delivers everything without compromising on user privacy and security .