Telegram Isn't As Private As You Think

Telegram advertises itself as a private messaging app, and has attracted over 800 million users. But Telegram is one of the last apps I'd recommend if you're looking for private communication.

In this video we explain how encryption actually works on Telegram: how it's not possible to end-to-end encrypt group chats, and how direct messages are not private by default. There are also some red flags about their encryption protocol, and how they present their overall privacy to the broader public.

00:00 Intro
00:47 Group Chats
01:38 One to One Messages
04:25 Encryption
05:54 Who Gets Access to Your Data?
08:27 Conclusion

Group chats on Telegram are wildly popular. But just remember that those messages are all able to be read by Telegram, as well as anyone else who is able to get access. I don't want anyone being misled about the privacy on the platform due to impressive marketing campaigns.

Best Messaging Apps:

Worst Messaging Apps:

Brought to you by NBTV team members: Lee Rennie, Cube Boy, Sam Ettaro, Will Sandoval, Reuben Yap, and Naomi Brockwell

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Here are a bunch of products I like and use. Using these links helps support the channel and future videos!

Recommended Books:

Beginner's Introduction To Privacy - Naomi Brockwell

Permanent Record - Edward Snowden

What has the government done to our money - Rothbard

Extreme Privacy - Michael Bazzel (The best privacy book I've ever read)

No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State - Glenn Greenwald

Some of my favorite products to help protect your privacy!

Faraday bag (signal stopping, to protect your fob, credit card, computer, and phone)

Data Blocker (if you're charging your phone in an unknown port, use this so that no data is transferred)

Camera tape (electrical tape is the best tape for covering phone and computer cameras)

USB-C to ethernet adapter:

Privacy Screens (use your phone and computer in public? Keep your information safe!)

Computer: (Search for the size right for your computer)

Phone: (Search for the size for your phone, decide whether you want glass or plastic!)

[youdontneedmyrealname]

Privacy is broken for any messaging service once they ask for anything identifiable, such as phone number or email.

[AmyDaisy]

When it comes to the internet, assume nothing is private. If you want a private conversation with someone then you need to meet face to face in a place with no technology.

[ellebleisch]

I barely used telegram feeling it wasnt clear or transparent which types of "privacy" it offer thanks so much for verifying it. Your channel is amazing and worthy of awards.

[natemarx]

Naomi couldn’t be more great if she tried.

[TechnoEveryday]

No messenger in the world is secured/private. Even end to end encryption messages CAN BE STOLEN before the app encrypts and sends

[isekaiexpress]

It's not about communication. It's about news.

[bobthomas]

At 1:17 you highlight the agreement that says group chats are stored on their services, but ignore the next sentence, "stored HEAVILY ENCRYPTED... keys stored in different jurisdictions..." Did you miss that part? And completely ignoring that, you say they can read messages, see pics, and that any govt can demand, but if you read their whole discussion of their security, they make the point that by splitting keys and storing each part in different jurisdictions, 2-3 different governments would need to demand keys. Maybe you don't believe their claim, or maybe it's still not good enough, but it seems misleading to not at least acknowledge it.

[OneGlass]

In Switzerland, we mostly rely on Threema. Don‘t know if this is a plus, but the Swiss Army has effectively outlawed any and all messaging apps, except Threema. And some government agencies even use the work version of it as a default app for their employees on work phones.

[SamotOremor]

hand delivering an actual letter is safer than any messaging system.

[anether]

One of the many things I like about your channel is that you've earned my trust that you will always have our back. Let's be honest, not everyone has the time or knowledge to really dive deep into every detail of how those apps and services work. So it's important to have someone you can trust to guide you a little through all of this.

[tatsumasa]

Doesn't matter. You have no privacy already once you signed up for your phone.

[MrLoLFaQ]

Probably the same as the Brave browser. Everyone thinks it's private and secure and they tell you that but it's actually not at all.

[HonzoNebro]

So.. all the problems you mentioned happen on non secret chats, those that are never stored as readable on any given server. And since they are worldwide, you need several court orders to get .

Let me guess, signal is better, right?

[MrSlm]

I don't use it for privacy... so I'm still okay with using it.

[Scalpaxos]

If it's on a network, it's not private. Basically NOTHING is private on internet.

[justiceg]

I never joined telegram despite everyone moving there because they asked for my phone number, it didn't make sense that people were going there for privacy

[halfhydra]

I made an account once and without even allowing access to my contacts, others that *had* allowed access to their contacts with me inside of them immediately started messaging me. I was so uncomfortable. Thanks for making a video to help get this to be more common knowledge

[HiVisl]

I am so sick of companies lying about important human rights like privacy.

[meister-t]

7:48 I don't see any mention of Signal's new code that they injected, which is to "fight spam", and is _not_ open source.
Nobody really knows what it does or what it can be used for.

[bitsanity]

Totally agree. Similar concerns with protonmail - some people think they are a front end for interpol. There is no such thing as privacy unless you encrypt your message yourself, before entering it into any program.