Telegram

Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging service that emphasizes speed, security, and user privacy. Launched in 2013 by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai Durov, Telegram has rapidly grown into one of the world’s most popular messaging apps, with millions of active users globally. The platform allows users to send messages, photos, videos, and files of any type, as well as create groups, channels, and bots for a wide variety of tasks.

Features

Telegram offers a range of features, including text messaging, voice and video calls, file sharing, and multimedia support. One of its distinguishing characteristics is the ability to create large group chats with up to 200,000 members and channels for broadcasting to unlimited audiences. Telegram also supports bots, which are automated accounts that can perform tasks, provide information, or integrate with other services.

Security and privacy are core aspects of Telegram’s appeal. It offers end-to-end encryption for its secret chats, self-destructing messages, and the option for users to hide their phone numbers. However, its default cloud chats use client-server encryption, which is designed to offer a balance between security and convenience, allowing users to access their messages from any connected device.

Development and Growth

Since its launch, Telegram has continually expanded its feature set and improved its security protocols. The platform introduced features such as voice and video calls, live location sharing, and instant view for reading articles. Telegram also supports cross-platform functionality, enabling users to access their accounts from smartphones, tablets, desktops, and web browsers.

Telegram’s commitment to privacy has occasionally put it at odds with governments and regulatory bodies, leading to temporary bans in several countries. Despite this, the app’s user base has continued to grow, driven by its reputation for secure communication and resistance to censorship.

Telegram Open Network (TON)

In 2018, Telegram announced plans for the Telegram Open Network (TON), a blockchain platform designed to offer decentralized digital services, including payments, file storage, and decentralized applications. TON aimed to leverage Telegram’s large user base to drive mass adoption of blockchain technology.

The centerpiece of TON was its native cryptocurrency, Gram, intended to facilitate transactions within the network. The project attracted significant attention and raised $1.7 billion in a private initial coin offering (ICO), making it one of the largest in history. However, in 2020, following legal action by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Telegram discontinued its involvement with TON. The SEC argued that the sale of Gram tokens constituted an unregistered securities offering.

Despite Telegram’s withdrawal, the TON project was continued by open-source developers and enthusiasts under the new name “The Open Network.” This community-driven effort aims to fulfill the original vision of TON, providing a scalable and user-friendly blockchain platform.

Security and Privacy

Telegram’s security features include server-client encryption for cloud chats and end-to-end encryption for secret chats, which are not stored on Telegram’s servers. Users can also enable two-factor authentication and self-destructing messages for added privacy. The platform’s commitment to user privacy has attracted a large audience concerned about surveillance and data security.

However, Telegram has faced criticism for not enabling end-to-end encryption by default for all chats and for its proprietary encryption protocol, MTProto, which some security experts have scrutinized.