Telegram has surged in popularity, becoming a go-to messaging app, boasting a 950 million monthly active user base. However, the main question on users' minds remains the same: Is Telegram safe?

A recent leak involving 361 million stolen accounts brings to light important security considerations beyond typical messaging app scams. This incident, which involved usernames, passwords, and related website URLs, illustrates how vulnerabilities such as information-stealing malware and credential-stuffing attacks can affect user credentials, sometimes through channels on Telegram. Although Telegram is well-regarded for its end-to-end encryption in its Secret Chats, this breach prompts users to take a broader view of overall security. It raises valuable questions about the full spectrum of privacy protections and how emerging technologies—such as blockchain encryption and P2P connectivity—might further enhance the security of sensitive communications. In this article, we explore Telegram's privacy and security features, address these concerns, and consider how advanced measures could offer even greater protection.

Key Takeaways

• Telegram's Strengths and Caveats:
  Telegram is a fast and versatile cloud-based messaging service that uses global data centers and robust encryption methods. However, its reliance on centralized key management and data collection practices calls for careful consideration.

• Dual Chat Types:
  The platform offers two main chat types—Cloud Chats, which are encrypted but stored on Telegram’s servers, and Secret Chats, which provide end-to-end encryption. Despite these options, some security concerns remain regarding overall privacy.

• Examining Security Risks:
  This article delves into how recent data breaches, credential theft, and malware attacks have underscored vulnerabilities that extend beyond typical messaging app scams.
  

• Enhanced Security with EXTRA SAFE:
  For highly sensitive communications, EXTRA SAFE offers a superior solution. With blockchain-level peer-to-peer and asymmetric encryption, EXTRA SAFE ensures that only authorized participants can access your data, and all session data is automatically destroyed when the meeting ends.

• Choosing the Right Tool:
  While conventional messaging apps might be adequate for everyday chats, when it comes to discussing critical financial strategies or other sensitive matters, EXTRA SAFE provides the enhanced privacy and security you deserve.
  

What is Telegram?

Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging and voice-over IP service. This sophisticated app is recognized for its high speed, versatility, and large group chat capabilities. Telegram's blend of security, innovation, and user-centric features solidifies its position as a dynamic and feature-rich communication platform.

Telegram is primarily used to communicate in large groups and communities, broadcast information to large audiences, share massive files, and more.

Telegram Messenger was a forerunner in introducing features like message reactions, interactive stickers, and the ability to edit sent messages. In addition, Telegram Premium addresses specific user needs by offering features like audio-to-text conversion.

Telegram is transforming into a comprehensive Web3 platform, pioneering the integration of next-gen applications. This strategic evolution, paired with the power of Telegram bots that automate tasks and enhance user interactions, redefines the perception of messengers.

Telegram is also committed to user privacy and freedom of speech and has cultivated a reputation as a secure messaging app, offering such perceived privacy features as Secret Chats and self-destructing messages. But is it truly safe?

How Does Telegram Work?

Telegram employs a distributed infrastructure with data centers worldwide. Its cloud-based storage system holds user data, including messages, files, and media, in an encrypted format, facilitating synchronization across devices. However, a crucial point to understand is that Telegram generates the encryption keys on its servers and transfers them over the network. This means that if Telegram's servers are compromised, all stored messages are potentially at risk. This vulnerability was revealed last year when over 300 million Telegram accounts were exposed in a major data breach, highlighting the potential risks of centralized key management.

Telegram Privacy & Security Features Overview

Telegram takes a comprehensive approach to privacy and security, providing users with various tools to manage their online presence. Some key features include:

• Robust Data Encryption:
  Telegram encrypts data to protect user information from unauthorized access, but creates decryption keys on their servers (on EXTRA SAFE, keys are created on your device and never leave it).

• End-to-End Encryption in Secret Chats:
  Secret Chats bypass cloud storage and ensure that messages are deleted after they are viewed. This ensures that only the sender and recipient can read the messages, providing a high level of privacy.

• Self-Destructing Messages:
  Users can set messages to automatically delete after being viewed, enhancing privacy. (In EXTRA SAFE, message destruction is automatic upon session end.)

Users can further customize their privacy through extensive settings, which allow them to control the visibility of personal information like phone numbers and profile photos.

Telegram's commitment to free speech, although sometimes at odds with government surveillance, highlights the platform's focus on user autonomy. As a platform popular for real-time information sharing, Telegram's privacy features are crucial for protecting sensitive data. Understanding how safe Telegram app is essential for a secure messaging experience.

Is Telegram Encrypted? What You Need to Know?

Telegram employs encryption to secure communications, but the level of security varies by chat type. For instance, Cloud Chats utilizes a client-server encryption model, encrypting data in multiple data centers worldwide. Although that data could be accessed with a court order, Telegram has intentionally designed it to be difficult for authorities," Intel 471 wrote in the blog post.

In general, Telegram offers two main types of data encryption:

• Cloud Chats:
  Cloud Chats are encrypted between your device and Telegram's servers. However, Telegram can access this data.

• Secret Chats:
  Secret Chats utilize an end-to-end encryption model, meaning only the sender and recipient can read the messages. However, the encryption keys are generated on Telegram's servers and distributed to the devices.

Is Telegram End-to-End Encrypted?

While Telegram offers end-to-end encryption in Secret Chats, standard Cloud Chats remain vulnerable, lacking full end-to-end encryption. This significant distinction highlights a huge security gap. This is a major area where EXTRA SAFE stands out by elevating users' security with unwavering, always-on, EXTRA SAFE-grade end-to-end encryption for every single chat.

We go beyond basic protection, employing blockchain-level asymmetric encryption, the gold standard for secure transactions. This means your messages are fortified with the same impenetrable technology that safeguards cryptocurrencies. Just imagine: every chat, every message, shielded by robust, uncrackable encryption. Even if intercepted, your communications appear as indecipherable gibberish, ensuring absolute privacy. With EXTRA SAFE, you will go beyond Telegram's end-to-end encryption due to our commitment to uncompromised security measures.

Telegram Security Concerns

Despite its unique privacy and security features, Telegram faces security concerns:

• Cloud Chat Vulnerabilities:
  The main concern is Cloud Chats, which are not end-to-end encrypted. The lack of default end-to-end encryption in Cloud Chats raises privacy concerns.

• Data Collection:
  Telegram collects metadata that can reveal information about users' activities, raising concerns about how user data is handled.

• Lack of Transparency:
  The messenger code is not completely open source, which raises concerns about how Telegram handles user data.
  

Telegram's privacy policies and data handling practices have drawn scrutiny. Users should be aware of what information Telegram collects and how it's used.

Is Telegram Safe from Hackers?

While Telegram's encryption provides a layer of security, no platform is entirely immune to hackers. Users are still vulnerable to phishing, social engineering, and other attacks.

Telegram Scams

Telegram's vast user base and lack of proper moderation make it a prime platform for scammers. Cheaters benefit from the messenger features, including username anonymity and end-to-end encryption in certain chats, to conceal their identities and carry out deceitful schemes. They frequently try to steal your personal information, financial details, and even your identity, which can then be sold on the dark web. Be aware of the diverse tactics employed, including fake Telegram channels spreading misinformation, tech support scams offering bogus assistance, impersonation scams pretending to be trusted contacts, romance scams preying on emotions, fake job offers, cryptocurrency, and investment scams promising unrealistic returns, fake giveaways, fraudulent classified ads, friend-in-need scams exploiting your empathy; the distribution of malware links and more.

EXTRA SAFE offers a fundamentally different approach, putting your privacy at the forefront. Our platform brings the intimacy and confidentiality of an in-person meeting to online video conferencing.

This architecture inherently minimizes the risk of many common scams associated with Telegram. Here's how:

EXTRA SAFE is a private peer-to-peer video conferencing platform that requires no personal information. Once the session ends, all meeting data is permanently destroyed. It also adopted the same robust model found in blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum: every video call occurs directly between participants using P2P communication, and asymmetric encryption ensures that encryption keys are generated on your device and never leave it.

For every day chats with friends and family, conventional apps might be enough—but when it comes to discussing important financial strategies or sensitive matters, EXTRA SAFE gives you the peace of mind you deserve with its truly private and secure conferencing solution.

Telegram Scams: How to Stay EXTRA SAFE

Be Wary of Unsolicited Messages: Always treat unexpected messages with caution. Scammers often pose as trusted contacts or services to lure you into clicking on malicious links or revealing personal information.

Verify the Identity of Contacts: Before engaging in any conversation or sharing sensitive data, double-check the person's identity on the other end. Use known contact information or video calls to ensure you're talking to someone you trust.

Don’t Click on Suspicious Links:
Cybercriminals often use enticing or urgent language to encourage you to click harmful links. When in doubt, hover over the link to preview the URL or ask the sender to confirm its legitimacy through another channel.

Report Suspicious Activity:
If you encounter dubious messages or behavior, report them to Telegram immediately. This will help protect not only you but also the wider community.

Guard Your Sensitive Information:
Never write, send, or record anything you wouldn’t want to be published. This includes:
- Passwords
- Credit card details
- Intimate photos
- Private keys
- Information about your cryptocurrency funds

For highly sensitive communications, consider using a secure alternative like EXTRA SAFE:
Only you and your trusted colleague can access the meeting data, and the session is automatically destroyed when it ends. If you inadvertently share sensitive information over Telegram, delete the message for both parties immediately.

By following these best practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to scams and ensure a safer messaging experience on Telegram.

The Final Verdict: Is Telegram Messenger Safe to Use in 2025?

Telegram offers a wide range of features, yet its security profile demands extra caution. Recent events—including the latest breach revealing a trove of 361 million unique email addresses with leaked credentials stolen via password-stealing malware, credential stuffing attacks, and data breaches—underscore significant vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity researchers have collected these credentials from numerous Telegram cybercrime channels where scammers share username-password combinations, URLs, and raw cookies to build reputation and attract subscribers.

This massive leak serves as a stark reminder: no site allowing logins is immune from such attacks. With these incidents in mind, it’s essential to rethink how you communicate sensitive information on Telegram. For everyday chats with friends and family, conventional apps might be sufficient—but when discussing important financial strategies or other sensitive matters, use EXTRA SAFE.

For highly sensitive communications, use EXTRA SAFE. Only you and your trusted colleague can access the meeting data, and the session is automatically destroyed when it ends. If you inadvertently share sensitive information over Telegram, delete the message for both parties immediately.

In an era where data breaches and credential theft are all too common, EXTRA SAFE gives you the peace of mind you deserve with its truly private and secure conferencing solution.