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Hossein Turkashvand

If I want to make a general statement about Telegram and its level of security, I have to say “Telegram is still secure”; but for whom and in what context? The security of a communication tool heavily depends on how it is used and the user who utilizes it, and it is not just a technical matter. In addition to security, the concept of privacy protection should also be taken into consideration.

I introduced the Telegram app to Iranian users two years ago when Viber was considered the most popular communication app. Considering the level of security of Viber at that time, which did not use any type of encryption and had no protective layers for user information, the features of Telegram were impressive. Telegram encrypts regular chats, but the information remains on its servers and the company has access to it. However, the “Secret Chat” feature in this app encrypts chats from source to destination (end to end), so even Telegram will not have access to the chat information.

Given that the information of regular chats, groups, and Telegram channels will be accessible on Telegram servers, there is always a possibility that others may also gain access to them. However, this access can happen in various ways. The first possibility is that as a Telegram user, you may not have taken the necessary precautions to ensure the security of your personal account, making it easier for others who want to hack into your account. The solution to this problem is to set a password for your Telegram account and enable two-step verification. Another possibility is that hackers may successfully hack into Telegram servers and gain access to people’s information. Apparently, this has not happened yet and it can be said that Telegram has been successful in this regard so far. But if it does happen, there is nothing you can do as a user, except to be careful and use the Secret Chat feature in Telegram more often. The last possibility is that Telegram may cooperate with the Iranian government and provide them with access to their servers. In

Generally, users of a communication tool like Telegram are a diverse range of individuals who have different reasons for using it. Some of these users are individuals who, by using the simpler and more accessible communication features, replace more traditional methods of communication such as making phone calls through telephone lines or sending text messages. However, another group of users are looking for more secure ways of communication in order to be able to exchange information with peace of mind, or to discuss more sensitive topics. The security of a communication tool should be analyzed based on the type of users and the information being exchanged.

You determine which category of Telegram users you belong to; so if you consider yourself a regular Telegram user who only uses it as a tool to communicate with friends and family and join your favorite channels, it is better to consider your privacy rather than worrying about Telegram’s security. If privacy is valuable to you, it is better to use more secure features for chatting, such as Secret Chat, or switch to more secure applications like WhatsApp and Signal as soon as experts confirm the cooperation of Telegram administrators with the Iranian government.

But if you consider yourself a sensitive Telegram user, and if you think you have sensitive conversations in chats, or you move sensitive files and information, or you may be under surveillance in political, civil, cultural and social fields and use Telegram as a secure tool, you should keep two points in mind. The first point is that you should never move sensitive information in regular chats and in groups. You are only allowed to do this through Secret Chats on Telegram. The reason for this sensitivity is that there is no guarantee that Telegram managers will never cooperate with the Iranian government and if this happens, you will be among the first victims. The second point is that it is true that Telegram is an open source application, but its code has not been fully reviewed and there should always be a percentage for errors in it. Therefore, I suggest that you stop using Telegram to make it easier for yourself and those around you and to maintain security, and as mentioned, use more secure applications such as WhatsApp and Signal

As a final word, I must say that security and privacy are not just technical issues, but also have a significant cultural aspect. Fortunately, in the whole world, including Iran, the culture of using more secure programs that value user information and protect it is growing and improving. In today’s world, with the desire and will of users, companies that provide technical products are obligated to improve and constantly update encryption technologies and security and privacy protection. This article, which discusses the level of security in an application like Telegram – which was once considered one of the safest applications – shows that users’ concern for protecting their personal information has significantly increased, which is commendable and something to be proud of.