How Safe Is Telegram?

What is Telegram?

Telegram is a free messaging app for one-on-one convos, groups, and large channels. Telegram is a free app that allows you to message other users privately, create group chats, or even public channels run by minor celebrities or news organizations. You can also use the app to make voice or video calls and share small files with others. Telegram is somewhat controversial among certain people because it refuses to censor anything—including things like hate speech, terroristic threats, and other illegal activity. Telegram also refuses to share any data with governments, which is why its CEO was arrested. Telegram was founded by a set of Russian brothers, but it’s not a state-supported company. In fact, Putin has repeatedly tried to shut Telegram down because they refused to share data with the Kremlin.

How Safe is Telegram?

In terms of message security, Telegram is extremely safe. Telegram uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that messages are unreadable unless the “keys” on both ends (the recipient and the sender) match. As a result, your messages aren’t even readable on Telegram’s servers. As a result, Telegram is widely considered one of the safest ways to communicate if you favor privacy. In theory, Telegram could choose to decrypt your messages on their servers without your permission, but there’s no evidence they’ve done that or intend to do it in the future.

When it comes to safe content, Telegram is basically the Wild West. If you’re a parent and your child expresses a desire to poke around on Telegram, it’s best to not let them. Telegram refuses to moderate any of the content on its platform, so there are a lot of ways for a minor to be exposed to something they shouldn’t see. Due to its refusal to moderate content, Telegram has become a hotspot for hackers, cybercriminals, and scammers. If you aren’t seasoned at spotting online scams, you’re best staying off Telegram.

How long does Telegram store your data?

Telegram uses cloud-based end-to-end encryption. Telegram is a cloud service, which means anything you send or save will not be kept on a physical server. Instead, it will be encrypted and stored on Telegram’s cloud server where it will be unopenable. As a result, there is no way for anybody who doesn’t have direct access to your account to see what you’re sharing. The only information of yours that isn’t encrypted is your location (if you share it), your username, your email, and a handful of cookies that are stored to keep the app running smoothly. Notably, none of this information makes you identifiable on its own.

How to Stay Safe on Telegram

Encrypt your messages using Telegram’s secret chat feature. Telegram’s encryption actually isn’t on by default—you have to opt into it. When you want to message someone, tap on the pencil icon on the lower right. Select “new secret chat.” Your messages are now fully encrypted.

Enable two-step verification to prevent hacks. To do so, tap the menu button on the upper-left corner of the screen, hit “settings,” and open the “privacy and security” submenu. Tap on two-step verification and enter your phone number or connect your 2FA app to have an added layer of account security. If you haven’t already, turn on a password requirement for your phone and the Telegram app.

Disable active sessions on multiple devices. Telegram’s encryption cannot work if you leave the same conversation up on multiple screens. To prevent this, avoid using the same Telegram account across multiple channels and sign out of any sessions you aren’t using. In “settings,” tap “privacy and security.” Then, tap on the active sessions and tap “terminate all other sessions.”

Make your pictures and videos self-destructing. Whenever you use the “attach” function to share media, tap the stopwatch icon and select your desired timeframe to choose when you want the media to self-destruct. This way, nothing you send will be permanently stored on Telegram’s servers.

Remove any unwanted group permissions. If you’re in any groups, periodically check their permissions to ensure you aren’t sharing anything you don’t want to. Tap on the menu button, then select “settings” and “privacy and security.” Tap on “groups” and select the safety options and permissions you want.

Set up automatic account deletion after you lose access. Go into “settings” and select “privacy and security.” Then, tap on the “if away” option. Here, you choose the time period you want your account to stay active after you’re inactive. If you set it to delete everything after 6- to 12-months, you’ll ensure your data is irretrievable after you’re gone or lose access to the app.