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Telegram (software)

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Telegram
Developer(s)Telegram Messenger LLP
Initial releaseAugust 2013 (2013-08)
Stable release
Android11.1.0[1] Edit this on Wikidata / 6 September 2024; 10 days ago (6 September 2024)
iOS, iPadOS11.1[2] Edit this on Wikidata / 6 September 2024; 10 days ago (6 September 2024)
Windows, macOS, Linux
(Telegram Desktop)		5.5.1[3] Edit this on Wikidata / 6 September 2024; 10 days ago (6 September 2024)
macOS11.1[4] Edit this on Wikidata / 6 September 2024; 10 days ago (6 September 2024)
Repository
Operating systemGoogle Android, Apple iOS, Windows Phone, MS Windows, Linux, OS X
Size9.6 MB (Android)
Available inEnglish, Arabic, Spanish, German, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Portuguese (Brazil & Portugal)
TypeInstant messaging
LicenseGPL v2 (client), closed source (server)
Websitewww.telegram.org

Telegram Messenger is a cross-platform instant messaging system whose clients are open source and servers are proprietary software. Telegram users can exchange encrypted and self-destructing messages, photos, videos and documents (all files types are supported).

Official and unofficial software for Telegram is available for many different platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.[5][6] Are also available from independent developers who make use of the Telegram API.

History

Telegram was launched in 2013 by the brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov, the founders of VK, Russia's largest social network.[7] Telegram Messenger LLP is an independent nonprofit company based in Berlin, Germany,[8] which is not connected to VK.[9] Nikolai created the new MTProto protocol that the messenger is based on, while Pavel provided financial support and infrastructure through his Digital Fortress fund.[10]

In October 2013, Telegram had 100,000 daily active users.[7] On 24 March 2014, Telegram announced that it has reached 35 million monthly users and 15 million daily active users.[11]

On December 21, 2013, a Russian IT-community user discovered a security problem in Telegram. The user was rewarded with a $100,000 USD bounty after it was fixed.[12]

On March 1, 2014 the first contest ended with no winners and Telegram published the keys necessary to decrypt traffic. Was to disclose confidential information within a fictional chat between Paul and Nick using the secret chat.[13][14] Telegram claims that challenges to break their crypto are a permanent feature of the project and announced that they are working on a new contest that would allow more active attacks.[13][15]

In November 2014 Telegram scored 5 out of 7 points on the Electronic Frontier Foundation's secure messaging scorecard.[16]

Features

A "secret chat" confirmation notice. Screenshot from an spanish language from iOS 8.

Key features and functions of this system:

Cloud use: Chats and files can be shared in the cloud and synchronized with other devices, with documents, multimedia and other files up to 1 gigabyte each.[5][17] Optionally, sent and received can be viewed, downloaded and deleted.[18]. Users can search for any word or phrase without having to open or download the conversation.[19] In addition, can send audio notes and geo-zones, sharing GIFs or animated memes via Giphy,[19] block other users and silence user groups and/or only certain group members.[20]

The emergence of checks under consent is shown at the bottom of the box (Check):[21] First, when the message is sent to the cloud. And two, when the recipient has already read once received. Also, can view the status of the transmitter: if he/she typing, send a picture, share a video or upload a file, time before of it readed by the user.[7]

Secrets chats: Telegram claims it is more secure than mass market messengers like WhatsApp and LINE. Conversations are encrypted with AES-256 using the MTProto protocol developed by Telegram.[7][22][23] Only two devices may use the secret chat simultaneously.[18]

Phone Number Confirmation and Alias: If the number is assigned to the first installed application, a code will be sent by SMS or phone call. Starting next device, the IP address and time of application, followed by the security code will be sent directly to those already allocated.[24] After, is possible assign their own number with an alias, in the same way it is done with a user account. Other users can search for and identify aliases without having to add them to their contacts.[18] Since December 2014, usernames will be configured as direct access like telegram.me/myuser.[25][26]

Groups and list: Users can send a message to multiple contacts at once using a personal list. Lists can be kept for future use.[17] Also include the possibility of forming groups with contacts, for activities between 3 and 200 members.[27]

Transferring user to another number: Users can migrate from one number to another. By using the option Change number, all messages and information about the user account are transferred to a new account irreversibly. Contacts that have the previous phone number and are not be blocked will receive the new number automatically.[25][26]

Architecture

Encryption

Explanation of secret chats, included in Telegram, using the keys of the devices, then share the code modified for use as single key encryption and locally synchronized.

All chats are encrypted with the new MTProto protocol created by Nikolai Durov, regardless of type. This is based on 256-bit symmetric AES encryption, RSA 2048 encryption and Diffie–Hellman secure key exchange.[28]

The application features two types of chats. Ordinary chats use client-server encryption and can be accessed from multiple devices. Secret Chats use end-to-end encryption and can only be accessed from the two participating devices. Telegram claims that third parties, including the Telegram administrators, cannot get access to your messages.[29] Messages and media in Secret Chats can also be set to self-destruct in a set period of time after being read. Once the time runs out, the messages disappear from both devices.[30]

In december of 2014, it implanted into the secrets chats technology Perfect forward secrecy, to refresh keys as time passes without compromising old messages.[25][26]

Licensing

All official Telegram clients (and some of the unofficial clients) are open source.[31] Telegram's server-side software, however, is closed source proprietary software. Pavel Durov mentioned that the server code is not free software, because Telegram requires a major redesign of architecture in order to allow independent servers to exchange data and act as a part of the unified Telegram cloud.[32] In their FAQ, Telegram says "All code will be released [ie open sourced] eventually. We started with the most useful parts — a well-documented API that allows developers to build new Telegram apps, and open source clients that can be verified by security specialists."[33]

List of Applications

File:Webogram Screenshot.png
Telegram Web, aka Webogram.

Telegram has various clients. Are expected to increase the supported platforms. It server system is decentralized and distributed around the world to improve response times by geographical position..[34] In this list, versions developed with the official platform, backed by the team or supported by the community to be integrated in a future.

Desktop

  • Telegram for Mac OS X. The first official aplication, available for Mac OS X. Originally developed by Denis Olszyna.[35]
  • Telegram Desktop: is a version that can be used in Windows (besides being portable application), Mac OSX and Linux-based. It is developed by the community.

Mobile

  • iOS: Launched in August 2013 to iPhone and iPod Touch and relaunched in July 2014 with support for iPad ,[36] is optimized for devices with iOS 6 or recent.
  • Android: Available from Android 2.2, including tablets, whose mechanism is similar.[37]
  • Windows Phone: Ngram-based application, in May 2014 a new official update was released in beta. With a Metro interface, have adapted the same features of its predecessors.[38][39] [40]
  • Firefox OS: Has an official, available in Marketplace client based on Webogram.

Others

  • Web app: Official client for web browsers Telegram (desktop and mobile). Web can share images and files with previously added contacts, including files and emoticons. The web app is available for Google Chrome.[41]
    • Webogram: The free version Telegram, where it originated. The code is available at Github preliminary phase can install on other servers.

Security and reception controversy

Several members of the cryptographic community, including security researchers Moxie Marlinspike and Taylor Hornby, have criticized Telegram's cryptanalysis contests for being no proof of security and misleading the public.[42][43][44][45]

Telegram has been supported by the community that is tied in the privacy of their users, unlike rival application WhatsApp.[46] The creator Pavel Durov, wrote a Medium article referring that "WhatsApp copy to Telegram in innovation and security", mentioning the performance of end-to-end encryption, multiple file upload, the ephemeral message expiration and access from web browsers. He even mentioned that Jan Koum had used Telegram developers to develop a web application simliar to the posed.[47][48]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Telegram". Google Play. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  2. ^ "Telegram Messenger". App Store. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  3. ^ "Releases v5.5.1". Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  4. ^ "Telegram for macOS". Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "List of Telegram applications". February 6, 2014.
  6. ^ "Che cosa è Telegram, Squer.it" (in Italian).
  7. ^ a b c d "Meet Telegram, A Secure Messaging App From The Founders Of VK, Russia's Largest Social Network". TechCrunch. October 27, 2013.
  8. ^ "Surveillance drives South Koreans to encrypted messaging apps". The Verge. October 7, 2014.
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ "Russia's Zuckerberg launches Telegram, a new instant messenger service". Reuters. August 30, 2013.
  11. ^ Telegram Hits 35M Monthly Users, 15M Daily With 8B Messages Received Over 30 Days, TechCrunch, March 24, 2014
  12. ^ "Crowdsourcing a More Secure Future". Telegram blog. December 21, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  13. ^ a b "Winter Contest Ends". Telegram blog. March 2, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  14. ^ Robin Wauters (December 19, 2013). "Cracking contest: first one who breaks Telegram gets $200,000 in bitcoins (but really, nobody wins)". Tech.eu. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  15. ^ "Telegram Contest FAQ". Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  16. ^ "Secure Messaging Scorecard. Which apps and tools actually keep your messages safe?". Electronic Frontier Foundation. November 4, 2014.
  17. ^ a b "Telegram: una alternativa gratuita a WhatsApp con ventajas y algún punto oscuro". March 1, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  18. ^ a b c "Secure Messaging App Telegram Adds Usernames And Snapchat-Like Hold-To-View For Media". Techcrunch. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  19. ^ a b "Telegram para iOS, Android se actualiza con soporte de GIFs" (in Spanish). Cnet. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  20. ^ "Telegram FAQ". Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  21. ^ Telegram F.A.Q.: What do the green ticks mean?, February 23, 2014
  22. ^ Telegram F.A.Q.: How secure is Telegram?
  23. ^ Description of MTProto Mobile Protocol
  24. ^ Miguel Lopez, Configurando Telegram en el iPhone, en la web y en el Mac (in Spanish), Applesfera, retrieved December 4, 2014
  25. ^ a b c Jonathan Munizaga (December 1, 2014). "Telegram ya permite migrar conversaciones y contactos a una línea nueva" (in Spanish). Wayerless. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  26. ^ a b c David G. Mateo (December 1, 2014). "Telegram ahora permite traspasar mensajes al cambiar de número". TuExperto. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  27. ^ "Should WhatsApp be wary of Telegram?". February 13, 2014.
  28. ^ Telegram technical FAQ for Advanced users
  29. ^ "New instant messenger Telegram protected even from spy intrusions". VentureBeat. November 12, 2013.
  30. ^ "Telegram FAQ". n.d. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  31. ^ Telegram source code links, retrieved February 12, 2013
  32. ^ "Pavel Durov: "No application is 100% safe"", El Diario Turing, February 2, 2014, retrieved February 12, 2014
  33. ^ "Telegram FAQ". Telegram. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
  34. ^ "Telegram, el chat que compite con Whatsapp". Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  35. ^ "Вышли тестовые версии клиентов Telegram под Mac OS X и Windows" (in Russian). TJournal.ru.
  36. ^ "Telegram se actualiza para la pantalla del iPad". Cnet.
  37. ^ "Telegram-Anleitung: So benutzt man den Messenger". Newsslash.
  38. ^ "Telegram Beta disponible para Windows Phone". Wayerless.
  39. ^ "Telegram Apps" (in Spanish). Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  40. ^ "Ngram se convierte en el cliente oficial de Telegram para Windows Phone" (in Spanish). Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  41. ^ "Telegram for Google Chrome". Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  42. ^ Moxie Marlinspike (December 19, 2013). "A Crypto Challenge For The Telegram Developers". Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  43. ^ Taylor Hornby (December 19, 2013). "Telegram's Cryptanalysis Contest". Crypto Fails. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  44. ^ Robin Wauters (December 19, 2013). "Cracking contest: first one who breaks Telegram gets $200,000 in bitcoins (but really, nobody wins)". Tech.eu. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  45. ^ Thijs Alkemade (April 2, 2014). "Breaking Half of the Telegram Contest". Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  46. ^ "Messaging app Telegram gets background media downloads, tweaked UI on Android". The Next Web. September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  47. ^ "WhatsApp intentó crear una versión web". Wayerless. November 19, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  48. ^ "Die Zukunft von WhatsApp (laut Telegram-Entwickler Pavel Durov)" (in German). GigaOM. November 19, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
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