mirror of
http://git.nowherejezfoltodf4jiyl6r56jnzintap5vyjlia7fkirfsnfizflqd.onion/nihilist/opsec-blogposts.git
synced 2025-07-02 11:56:40 +00:00
74 lines
3.5 KiB
Markdown
74 lines
3.5 KiB
Markdown
---
|
|
author: jorgesumle
|
|
date: 2025-05-28
|
|
gitea_url: "http://git.nowherejezfoltodf4jiyl6r56jnzintap5vyjlia7fkirfsnfizflqd.onion/nihilist/blog-contributions/issues/277"
|
|
xmr: 4AVrC3LT4Ad7DCK5L8MDfWfMeiTqDYJnWDAKGE1jJNbn7pBmFGay81C5sKcci9pwkXRRBexM5JKyVUTEPWvvZTAJ3WeAAex
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
# Why can't you use Telegram to chat anonymously
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Telegram dangerously gives some people a false sense of privacy that is
|
|
in no way warranted. This is mainly due to misleading advertising:
|
|
Telegram claims to be open source and end-to-end encrypted. Even if
|
|
these deceptive statements were truth, the popular messaging app has
|
|
other serious issues that compromise your privacy.
|
|
|
|
## Closed-source, centralized and not encrypted: a privacy nightmare
|
|
|
|
Only the Telegram client code is open source, but that code is useless
|
|
without the back-end closed-source programs and infrastructure. Those
|
|
core components are **controlled by a single company** that can be
|
|
easily forced to comply with authorities. In August 2024, Telegram CEO
|
|
was arrested by French authorities who demanded information on users of
|
|
the app. He gave in, showing the world that your private conversation,
|
|
phone number, IP address, pictures and so on are not safe.
|
|
|
|
Telegram's funding depends on paid subscriptions and ads. Who can assure
|
|
you that in the future they will not expand their revenue streams by
|
|
offering you ads based on the things you send or training AI?
|
|
|
|
What prevents Telegram employees, hackers or government agents from
|
|
reading your messages? Nothing. Messages on Telegram aren't encrypted by
|
|
default, so users are in the buff. Sure, They could start a "secret
|
|
chat", but that feature is not available on desktop or web clients and
|
|
would surely raise suspicion. Optional privacy makes users who opt in
|
|
stand out in the crowd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## You will be tracked
|
|
|
|
Better forget it if you want to be anonymous on Telegram. Before you
|
|
can even start chatting you must provide a phone number, which can be
|
|
easily linked to your real identity. As a workaround, you could use a
|
|
burner phone. But even then you would have to be technologically savvy to
|
|
install a privacy-respecting open source mobile operating system and
|
|
avoid being tracked by cellphone networks. Using a pseudonym and
|
|
avoiding sharing personal information would be pointless at that point.
|
|
|
|
The most bullet-proof method to protect your identity is [to pay for a
|
|
remote SMS verification with Monero](http://blog.nowherejezfoltodf4jiyl6r56jnzintap5vyjlia7fkirfsnfizflqd.onion/opsec/anonsms/).
|
|
If you fear that Telegram might ask you for verification again and you
|
|
want to keep using the same Telegram account, you should consider
|
|
renting a non-VoIP number.
|
|
|
|
In short, using Telegram with privacy or anonymity is overly
|
|
complicated, so it's only recommended for public use. If someone invites
|
|
you to use Telegram to discuss sensitive topics, avoid entering the
|
|
lion's den. Instead tell them to do it in person or use an open source,
|
|
decentralized and anonymous alternative such as Briar or SimpleX.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Why SimpleX
|
|
|
|
Unlike Telegram, SimpleX does not require users to provide a phone
|
|
number. It is designed with strong privacy and security features,
|
|
ensuring that your messages remain confidential and are not stored on
|
|
any central server. It offers end-to-end encryption and minimal metadata
|
|
collection, making it a robust choice for those who prioritize privacy
|
|
and security in their communications. If you want to achieve secure,
|
|
decentralized, and privacy-focused communication, SimpleX is a great
|
|
option.
|