Posted on 02/24/2016 9:26:56 AM PST by dennisw
Messaging service now delivering 15 billion messages every day, adding 350,000 users a day.
Secure messaging app Telegram has hit 100 million monthly active users -- with 350,000 new users signing up each day. The company said it is delivering 15 billion messages a day, up from August last year when the app was transmitting 10 billion messages each day.
Telegram allows users to send messages, photos, videos, and files of any type (doc, zip, MP3, etc), as well as create groups for up to 1,000 people or channels for broadcasting messages to larger audiences. It's free to use, which explains much of the attraction, but Telegram also emphasises the security of messages sent using the service.
It uses two levels of encryption: server-client encryption is used in private and group 'cloud chats', while its 'secret chats' use end-to-end encryption and "leave no trace on our servers, support self-destructing messages and don't allow forwarding", the company said. These chats are not part of the Telegram cloud and can only be accessed on their devices of origin.
Telegram launched for iOS on August 14, 2013, and for Android on October 20, 2013. It is now available on iOS (6 and above), Android (2.2 and up), and Windows Phone. There is also a web version and desktop apps for Windows, OS X, and Linux.
The increasing use of encrypted services is leading to complaints from law enforcement and spies that they can no longer easily access communications, allowing criminals and others to plan in secret.
The level of security offered by Telegram has worried some governments, which fear such technologies could be used by terrorists, but the company FAQ notes: "While we do block terrorist (e.g. ISIS-related) bots and channels, we will not block anybody who peacefully expresses alternative opinions" In January, Telegram said it had banned over 660 public ISIS channels since November and was removing five to 10 daily.
Still, such services cannot protect communications from all prying eyes. It can help when it comes to data transfer and secure communication, which means data sent and received via Telegram "cannot be deciphered when intercepted by your ISP, network administrator or other third parties".
But it adds: "Please remember that we cannot protect you from your own mother if she takes your phone. Or from your IT department if they access your computer at work. Or from any other people that get physical or root access to your phones or computers running Telegram."
so Apple encryption is irrelevant. One can encrypt communications this way via a free app.
I suppose an iphone user can double encrypt with “Telegram” just to be sure
Informative good article
I don’t have anything that important on my phone. Contact list and meaningless texts to children and wife.
Better yet, I would make my notes, maps, plans, lists and stuff like that using old-fashioned pen and paper which can be burned after I'm done with it. But, that's just me.
“I don’t have anything that important on my phone. Contact list and meaningless texts to children and wife.”
What??? You mean you don’t have a private email server for conducting classified government business? I thought EVERYBODY had one of those!
This is what the USPS should be doing. It should eliminate mail service and become both a social media site and a secure messaging app.
So what? Shall we use you as a litmus test for the legality of encryption availability?
Absolutely not, unless you just want to...
Then I don’t get your point.
My point is only visible if you have a Rijndael token key.
How resolute a conservative can you really be?
why are you even on Free Republic?
Different types of encryption.
Apple locks the door to your home.
Telegram puts a lock on the mail leaving your home.
If Telegram is doing what I think they are, its not really that secure.
Now, now, Dennis, you know better than that.
This app is a cute limited-use item that helps in one particular circumstance. It has value. But it's like saying that because someone is selling a VW Beetle, that no one else has any need for a moving van, an 18-wheeler, a farm tractor, a backhoe, etc.
Apple's encryption covers much more than the simple messaging done by Telegram.
Name : telegram-cli
Arch : x86_64
Version : 1.3.1
Release : 3.20150710gitcf6cb9.fc21
Size : 818 k
Repo : updates/21/x86_64
Summary : Linux Command-line interface for Telegram
URL : https://github.com/vysheng/tg
License : GPLv2+ and LGPLv2+
Description : Telegram is an Open Source instant messaging platform for mobile and
: desktop focused on privacy.
: This is a Linux Command-line interface for Telegram.
What does encryption have to do with browsing the FR?
Maybe the USpS can go away along with the IRS and the rest of government. hope so
Apple encryption is irrelevant......What I meant is the FBI’s obsession with breaking Apple encryption is bit of a side show if any jamoke can send encrypted messages this way via telegram
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