Is Telegram a National Security Threat? ("A world of unimaginable filth and crime")

Newsweek ^ | April 2, 2024 | John Mac Ghlionn

[canuck_conservative]

The Russian-made app, according to a new report from Guardio, has, in recent times, evolved into a thriving center where experienced cybercriminals and beginners can openly share illegal tools and knowledge—a "scammers paradise." As a result, a dark and well-organized supply chain of tools and victims' data has emerged...

As the Guardio report clearly demonstrated, there is very little, if anything, secure about Telegram, contrary to popular reports.

The paradox lies in Telegram's emphasis on its security and privacy features, despite there being no automatic end-to-end encryption in place; instead, message protection relies on policies rather than technology. Such a security flaw poses a risk to your privacy, and the availability of malware for hire poses a threat to your device. This becomes even more glaring when considering that Google Messages and Facebook Messenger now offer default end-to-end encryption.

As Jeff Allen, co-founder and chief research officer for the Integrity Institute, a U.S think-tank, recently told the Financial Times, in addition to "broader integrity issues," people "should be worried about the criminal underworld" that exists on Telegram...

Telegram is, in many ways, the new "dark web." However, unlike the traditional dark web, which requires specialized browsers, Telegram is considerably easier to access. In truth, there are no barriers to entry. Simply download the app, and away you go. Enter a world of unimaginable filth and crime.

Users can use Telegram, now a mix of Reddit, Rumble, 4Chan, and Craigslist to buy just about anything, from abortion pills, Bolivian cocaine, and fraudulently cloned bank cards.

Telegram may be safe for organized criminals, but it's not safe for everyday Americans. TikTok is not the only dangerous app in existence. U.S. lawmakers would do well to remember this rather important fact...

[Cronos]

So there was no "murky dark stuff out there" before the Interwebs?

it was harder to get a hold of and easier to physically monitor.

You have the same decision making at hand when allowing a person to vote with or without ID

[E. Pluribus Unum]

it was harder to get a hold of and easier to physically monitor.

Oh, so the purpose of government is to "physically monitor" us?

Thanks for clarifying that.

FYI, government is the greediest, most corrupt and murderous force on Earth. It's not even debatable. Governments murdered 262,000,000 of their own citizens in the 20th century alone. Nothing else comes remotely close.

But you want government to "physically monitor" everything we do even though government keeps far more secrets and is far more corrupt and dangerous.

As soon as government stops keeping secrets from us, we can stop keeping secrets from them.

Deal?

[linMcHlp]

Russia uses Tik-Tok and Telegram *network traffic* info to track targets.

Ukraine learned the hard way, re Tik-Tok usage by frontline troops.

Telegram remains a problem for Ukraine, behind the lines.