Telegram may be an unencrypted gold mine of information and Pavel Durov may simply be a geopolitical pawn Kadan Stadelmann · 2 weeks ago · 3 minutes checked out
Pavel Durov’s arrest and media representations misguide public about Telegram’s security and personal privacy.
3 minutes checked out
Upgraded: Sep. 7, 2024 at 6:41 pm UTC
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The following is a visitor post by Kadan Stadelmann, CTO of Komodo Blockchain.
Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, was detained today after a four-day interrogation associated– openly a minimum of– to the presence of prohibited activity on his app, consisting of kid porn.
The taking place media craze painted Telegram as a nearly mystical, privacy-centered app, which is not real. The protection has actually provided the world a misconception of what Telegram is and how it works.
The confusion, and an absence of responses, raises more concerns because Durov’s arrest.
Might there be more to this story than a basic criminal examination as French President Emanuel Macron guarantees.
Telegram Not What It’s Reported To Be
Telegram needs to have terrific public relations since they have actually been plastered all over the news as an “encrypted messaging app.” The issue? The app does not provide end-to-end file encryption by default. Rather, it should be by hand triggered through the “Secret Chats” function for each single personal discussion. Even more, file encryption is just offered for individually discussions, not for group talks.
Telegram conceals its file encryption behind a number of clicks, a covert menu, and lastly a “Confirm” pop-up that asks the user if they actually, actually genuinely, really wish to make it possible for Telegram’s file encryption. In order to secure the discussion, the other celebration should be online when you trigger Telegram’s file encryption, which is based on exclusive code that raises red flags with auditors. Such a procedure most likely hinders prospective encryptors. Industry-standard file encryption would need simply opening a brand-new chat window.
…[T]he large bulk of individually Telegram discussions– and actually each and every single group chat– are most likely noticeable on Telegram’s servers, which can see and tape-record the material of all messages sent out in between users,” composes cryptographer Mathew Green. “… Telegram understands its file encryption is tough to switch on, and they continue to promote their item as a safe messenger.”
Instead of enhance Telegram’s end-to-end file encryption offering, Durov takes chance ats rival Signal, declaring it has ties to the United States federal government.
“Indeed, it no longer feels entertaining to see the Telegram company advise individuals far from default-encrypted messengers, while declining to carry out necessary functions that would extensively secure their own users’ messages,” composes Green. “In truth, it’s beginning to feel a bit destructive.”
Telegram does not just disappoint modern-day file encryption requirements. The impression that Telegram does not comply with authority needs is incorrect. Spiegel Online reported in 2022 that Telegram supplied the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) with access to users’ individual information in cases of kid abuse and terrorism,
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