Telegram (just like Signal and WhatsApp) offers a surefire way to prevent this happening. They tell you that their network is down, and they’ve asked for an SMS to be sent to you instead of them-please forward it to them. It doesn’t have to be Telegram-Facebook or WhatsApp will do. But by far the easiest and most common method is to send you a message from the already hijacked account of a friend. There are sophisticated ways to steal these SMS codes- tricking networks into issuing duplicate SIMs, intercepting SMS traffic on the network, or planting malware on your device. If successful, this provides access to your account and cloud storage. Attackers install Telegram on their device, enter your number, and then try to get the SMS code which is sent to you. If anyone gets hold of that SMS code, they can hijack your account and gain access to your content. Telegram - Getting Started Telegram/Androidīut there’s a serious problem. Again, like the others, if you upgrade your phone, you simply repeat the process, enter the SMS code and restore your account.

Telegram is a complex platform used by a significant number of people-you shouldn’t use it until you’ve changed these critical settings.Īs with WhatsApp and Signal, when you install Telegram on your device, you enter your phone number and receive an SMS to confirm it’s your number and to link that to your new account. You’re unlikely to use these options if you’re just switching out WhatsApp after recent, alarmist headlines. When competing with WhatsApp, this is a compelling argument, especially now.īut Telegram is finding it hard to shake free from its roots-200,000 group member limits and unlimited broadcast channels meet the needs of protest groups, and worse. And it wants to do this without selling your data.

Telegram says it has sought to balance “usability” with security, making its service easier to use than its competition.

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