Some people say it’s really privacy-giving and that you should use it as a privacy alternative. Others say it’s alao on the big tech side. What’s going on with telegram, really?

  • Undertaker@feddit.org
    25·
    10 days ago

    Some people obviously do not know what they are talking about. Telegram stores clear text chat messages on their servers. That’s not even near privacy

      • spinning_disk_engineer@lemmy.ca
        0·
        9 days ago

        By default, yes. It is possible to create a so-called secret chat, which is standard for signal and similar, but that’s something you have to manually do. Furthermore, it’s not even possible to make secret chats for groups. When it was initially released, I was cautiously optimistic that it could turn into a good, secure application, but knowing it’s been this long and it hasn’t, I wouldn’t consider that likely.

  • onlooker@lemmy.ml
    9·
    10 days ago

    Telegram talks a pretty big privacy game, but consider that the feature that actually enables end-to-end encryption, called “Secret Chats” in the app, is OFF by default. Couple that with everything else said in this thread and you start to see a picture forming. And it’s not pretty.

  • artyom@piefed.socialEnglish
    6·
    10 days ago

    I wouldn’t call it “big tech”. The biggest problem is that none of the chats are encrypted by default. And even if you do use “secret chats”, the encryption there doesn’t seem to be up to PAR with modern standards.

    The creator previously refused to comply with warrants but since he was jailed in France, that’s pretty much over.

    A good messenger is unable to comply, by design, because it simply does not store the data that these govts are after.

  • balsoft@lemmy.ml
    5·
    10 days ago

    It probably has worse privacy than e-mail or IRC, because it has the same level of encryption (transport encryption only, i.e. Telegram LLC can read your messages), but it also requires a phone number to use, linking your account to your real identity. In short, do not use it for communications if you desire them to be private.

  • HoleSailor@feddit.org
    73·
    10 days ago

    For messaging purpose WhatsApp (if not Signal) is better than Telegram as Telegram chats are not encrypted by default.

    • Autonomous User@lemmy.worldEnglish
      62·
      10 days ago

      Wrong, we do not control WhatsApp. It fails to include a libre software license text file. Nothing secures our messages from WhatsApp.

      • HoleSailor@feddit.org
        41·
        10 days ago

        Neither do we control Telegram. Both TG and WP are notorious. Even after Telegram client’s being open-sourced, no one stopped them from sharing user data to Indian Govt. I am not defending WP, but it at least has a mention that chats are by default E2E encrypted. That’s why I mentioned “if not Signal”.

  • emergencyfood@sh.itjust.works
    4·
    10 days ago

    It depends. By default, it uses a weaker encryption than WhatsApp. You can turn on e2e encryption, but not in group chats.

    On the other hand, it has multiple FOSS clients, will work on pretty much any platform, and has a great UI.

    If you want a fairly secure chat app that your grandparents can use, then Telegram is perfect. If you’re sending highly confidential stuff, then no.

    It’s also suitable for project groups, because of the better tools (and moderation bots) available to the mods.

  • Lyra_Lycan@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    4·
    10 days ago

    Telegram allegedly complied with a government to give them user data, and their e2e encryption was switched to be off by default. I know because when I started the chat with someone we raved about how it says ‘end to end encrypted’ before sending a message. Well, between then and when I decided to migrate off it, that private one-to-one chat’s encryption was switched off.

    I say it’s okay, but only ensure that e2ee is on

  • anon5621@lemmy.ml
    51·
    10 days ago

    It was much better in the past in years 2017 ,now don’t use it.they put many limitations to custom clients and still not published source code of server as it was promised

  • Catalyst@lemmy.ml
    4·
    10 days ago

    Use Forkgram off of F-Droid. Its an open source app with extra features. You have to have the regular app to verify the login on forkgram. Then just uninstall the regular app. I only use it for news channels and mod’d app channels. I don’t use it for communications. Its not good for that.

  • peskypry@lemmy.ml
    2·
    9 days ago

    Every text you send through Telegram is stored in plaintext. Telegram and authorities can access that without your knowledge. Also it will get leaked in a breach someday.

    Now you decide for yourself if it’s private.

    • Meow-Misfit@lemmy.worldOP
      1·
      9 days ago

      Woah, thanks.

      What should I use, then? Because, from what I seen, Signal is US hosted, and this isn’t very good to privacy.