Telegram is a cloud -based instant messaging service developed by Telegram Messenger LLPa privately held company registered in LondonUnited Kingdom[16] founded by the Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov. Telegram's client-side code is open-source software but the source code for recent versions is not always immediately published, [18] whereas its server-side code is closed-source and proprietary.
In MarchTelegram stated that it had million monthly active users. Telegram's security model has received notable criticism by cryptography experts. They criticized the general security model of permanently storing all contacts, messages and media together with their decryption keys on its servers by default and by not enabling end-to-end encryption for messages by default.
Messages and media in Telegram are only server-client encrypted by default. Telegram was launched in by the brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durovwho had previously founded the Russian social network VKbut had to leave the company after it was taken over by the Mail. In DecemberCointelegraph reported that Telegram was planning to launch a blockchain platform and native cryptocurrency. As of springthe only official sources of information are the two Forms D that Telegram filed with the U.
Securities and Exchange Commission. In OctoberTelegram haddaily active users. Telegram accounts are tied to telephone numbers and are verified by SMS or phone call. Connected devices can be removed individually or all at once. The associated number can be changed at any time and when doing so, the user's contacts will receive the new number automatically.
Users can replace exact "last seen" timestamps with broader messages such as "last seen recently". The default method of authentication that Telegram uses for logins is SMS-based single-factor authentication. Telegram's default messages are cloud-based and can be accessed on any of the user's connected devices. Users can share photos, videos, audio messages and other files up to 1. Users can send messages to other users individually or to groups of up tomembers.
This gives user an ability to correct typos and retract messages that were sent by mistake. This way local engineers or physical intruders cannot get access to user data".
Here, most providers employ client-server encryption as well, however usually with the standardized protocol Transport Layer Security. E-mails may or may not be encrypted on the servers.
Telegram cloud messages and media remain on the servers at least until deleted by all participants. In JuneTelegram launched a platform for third-party developers to create bots. They can respond to messages or mentionscan be invited into groups and can be integrated into other programs. It also accepts online payments with credit cards and Apple Pay. Telegram pointed out that it considered implementing a feature that would announce such a status change within the relevant group.
In order to activate an inline bot, user needs to type in the message field a bot's username and query. The bot then will offer its content. User can choose from that content and send it within a chat. Channels can be created for broadcasting messages to an unlimited number of subscribers. Users who join a channel can see the entire message history.
Each message has its own view counter, showing how many users have seen this message. Users can join and leave channels at any time. Furthermore, users can mute a channel, meaning that the user will still receive messages, but won't be notified. Stickers are cloud-based, high-definition images intended to provide more expressive emoji. When typing in an emoji, the user is offered to send the respective sticker instead. Stickers come in collections called "sets", and multiple stickers can be offered for one emoji.
Telegram comes with one default sticker set, [76] but users can install additional sticker sets provided by third-party contributors. Sticker sets installed from one client become automatically available to all other clients. Sticker images use WebP file format, which is better optimized to be transmitted over internet. Drafts are unfinished messages synced across user devices.
One can start typing a message on one device and continue on another. The draft will persist in editing area on any device until it is sent or removed. Messages can also be sent with client-to-client encryption in so-called secret chats. These messages are encrypted with the service's MTProto protocol. Secret chats have to be initiated and accepted by an invitation, upon which the encryption keys for the session are exchanged.
Users in a secret chat can verify that no man-in-the-middle attack has occurred by comparing pictures that visualize their public key fingerprints. According to Telegram, secret chats have supported perfect forward secrecy since December Encryption keys are periodically changed after a key has been used more than times or has been in use for more than a week.
Windows and Linux users are still not able to use secret chats using the official Telegram Desktop app while the official macOS-only client supports them. Telegram's local message database is not encrypted by default.
In the end of MarchTelegram introduced its own voice calls. The calls are built upon the end-to-end encryption of Secret Chats. Connection is established as peer-to-peer whenever possible, otherwise the closest server to the client is used. According to Telegram, there is a neural network working to learn various technical parameters about call to provide better quality of the service for future uses. After a brief initial trial in Western Europe, voice calls are now available for use in most countries.
When posted in a public channel on Telegram, the videos are also uploaded to and viewable without an account at telesco. However, Telegram video messages and "Telescope" videos sent within non-public chats or groups are not published.
For either 15 minutes, one hour, or eight hours, Telegram users can share their live location in a chat since version 4. In FebruaryTelegram launched their social login feature to its users, named as Telegram Login.
The gateway sends users' Telegram name, username, and profile picture to the website owner, while users' phone number remains hidden. The gateway is integrated with a bot, which is linked with the developer's specific website domain. Telegram uses a symmetric encryption scheme called MTProto.
Telegram Messenger LLP has servers in a number of countries throughout the world to improve the response time of their service. Pavel Durov has said that it would require a major architectural redesign of the server-side software to connect independent servers to the Telegram cloud.
Telegram has various client apps, some developed by Telegram Messenger LLP and some by the community. Users can also access Telegram's cloud-based messages via an official Javascript web browser interface called Telegram Web aka Webogram. Users can share images, files and emojis with previously-added contacts; this works in most modern browsers, such as FirefoxSafariand Google Chrome.
Telegram has public APIs with which developers can access the same functionality as Telegram's official apps to build their own messaging applications. Telegram also offers an API that allows developers to create botswhich are accounts controlled by programs.
Cryptography experts have expressed both doubts and criticisms on Telegram's MTProto encryption scheme, saying that deploying home-brewed and unproven cryptography may render the encryption vulnerable to bugs that potentially undermine its security, due to a lack of scrutiny. Critics have also disputed claims by Telegram that it is "more secure than mass market messengers like WhatsApp and Line ", [69] because WhatsApp applies end-to-end encryption to all of its traffic by default and uses the Signal Protocolwhich has been "reviewed and endorsed by leading security experts", while Telegram does neither and insecurely stores all messages, media and contacts in their cloud.
On 26 Februarythe German consumer organization Stiftung Warentest evaluated several data-protection aspects of Telegram, along with other popular instant-messaging clients. Among the aspects considered were: Telegram was rated 'critical' kritisch overall. The organization was favorable to Telegram's secure chats and partially open source code, but criticized the mandatory transfer of contact data to Telegram's servers and the lack of an imprint or address on the service's website.
It noted that while the message data is encrypted on the device, it could not analyse the transmission due to a lack of source code. Telegram's default chat function received a score of 4 out of 7 points on the scorecard.
It received points for having communications encrypted in transit, having its code open to independent review, having the security design properly documented, and having completed a recent independent security audit. Telegram's default chat function missed points because the communications were not encrypted with keys the provider didn't have access to, users could not verify contacts' identities, and past messages were not secure if the encryption keys were stolen.
Telegram's optional secret chat function, which provides end-to-end encryption, received a score of 7 out of 7 points on the scorecard. In Decembertwo researchers from Aarhus University published a report in which they demonstrated that MTProto does not achieve indistinguishability under chosen-ciphertext attack IND-CCA or authenticated encryption. Nevertheless, they said they saw "no reason why [Telegram] should use a less secure encryption scheme when more secure and at least as efficient solutions exist".
In Aprilaccounts of several Russian opposition members were hijacked by intercepting the SMS messages used for login authorization. In JunePavel Durov claimed publicly that U. Telegram has organized two cryptography contests to challenge its own security. Third parties were asked to break the service's cryptography and disclose the information contained within a secret chat between two computer-controlled users.
Both of these contests expired with no winners. The article also noted that "some users are concerned that Telegram's willingness to comply with Iranian government requests might mean future complicity with other Iranian government censorship, or even allow government access to Telegram's data on Iranian users".
Only requests regarding public content bots and sticker packs will be processed. In Julyit was reported that China blocked access to Telegram Messenger. After week-long negotiations and seeming imminent blockage of the service, the conflict ceased after high officials pulled some strings with the regulator. On December 30,during anti-government demonstrations across IranTelegram has shut down a channel of the Iranian opposition that published calls to use Molotov cocktails against the police, after receiving a complaint from the Iranian government.
Pavel Durov explained that the reason for the blocking was a "no calls to violence" policy and confirmed that criticizing local authorities, challenging the status quo and engaging in political debate were seen as "OK" by the platform, while "promoting violence" was not. Channels of the opposition remain operational.
In MarchIran's chairman for the Committee for Foreign policy and National Security Alaeddin Boroujerdi announced that Telegram has been targeted to be fully blocked in Iran by 20 April[] citing Telegram's role in facilitating the winter protests and the need to promote local apps.
On 13 AprilTelegram was banned in Russia by a Moscow court, due to its refusal to grant the Federal Security Service FSB access to encryption keys needed to view user communications as required by federal anti-terrorism law.
There are four stages that you need to go through in order to have the account verified. Mind-blowing ideas like exponents (you saw these briefly in the 5th grade), ratios, percents, negative numbers, and variable expressions will start being in your comfort zone. They consider seasonal factors of currency pairs oscillations, which are used in. The bot will then continue 100ETH into the loanbook before stopping.