Telegram’s Security: What Crypto Users Need to Know
Following the arrest of founder Pavel Durov, Telegram is making changes to its content moderation policies. But even before these changes, there are some security risks that crypto users should be aware of.
Security Concerns on Telegram
While Telegram is popular in the crypto community, it’s important to remember that not all communications are secure.
* **End-to-end encryption isn’t the default:** Only private messages with “Secret Chat” mode enabled are end-to-end encrypted. This means Telegram can access the contents of your messages if you haven’t turned on this setting.
* **Encryption technology is questioned:** Some experts have raised concerns about the strength of Telegram’s encryption protocol, MTProto 2.0.
Additional Risks for Crypto Users
Even when private chats are encrypted, there are still risks:
* **Screenshots:** Screen grabs of encrypted messages can be used in court proceedings.
* **Anonymous accounts:** Messaging with anonymous contacts can be risky, as you don’t know their true intentions.
* **Varying laws:** What’s considered legal in one country may be illegal in another. This can be problematic for crypto users, as laws regarding cryptocurrencies differ widely.
What to Do
To mitigate these risks, consider the following:
* **Enable Secret Chat mode:** Ensure this setting is enabled for all private chats.
* **Be cautious with anonymous accounts:** Only communicate with people you know and trust.
* **Be aware of local laws:** Research the laws in your country regarding cryptocurrencies.
If you’re really concerned about the privacy of your communications, you might want to consider using an alternative messaging app like Signal, which has a strong track record of security.
