Telegram Now Shares Users’ IP and Phone Number on Legal Requests

[dogluver101]

If the feds are after you, it doesn't matter which chat app you use, they'll already be on your phone. The data that is disclosed by the respective chat operator also depends on the country in which you live or whose nationality you have. Since different laws apply, the EU, for example, is much stricter than Brazil. I doubt that one chat app is more secure than another. Many people trust the false anonymity of the internet, which is a big mistake in first place.

True.
Almost no app is safe. At least telegram admitted they can turn off encryption.
Unless you're actually under investigation, they would have to be contacted by the agency investigating.. telegram isnt just sending millions of contacts because they like dog penies's

Its always the very big name apps that get more talk like this.. I dont think matrix gets this much attention. Though it's more the encryption is setup by the user. But people want convince which involves trusting the app with your encryption keys

 

[kyhorse]

True.
Almost no app is safe. At least telegram admitted they can turn off encryption.
Unless you're actually under investigation, they would have to be contacted by the agency investigating.. telegram isnt just sending millions of contacts because they like dog penies's

Its always the very big name apps that get more talk like this.. I dont think matrix gets this much attention. Though it's more the encryption is setup by the user. But people want convince which involves trusting the app with your encryption keys

How can they turn off encryption on end to end?

 

[Blacksoul]

How can they turn off encryption on end to end?

By giving the requesting authority the corresponding key. There are only two ways to break end-to-end encryption. First, with the correct key for the protocol used, it is no problem at all to access the plain text. However, to crack end-to-end encryption, the protocol must be attacked, which is difficult and extremely time-consuming in order to spy on the content. But it is definitely not impossible.

 

[kyhorse]

But the encryption code isn’t stored on their servers nor generated by their servers. So how could they share it? It’s all kept locally and generated locally. I’m referring to the end to end encrypted private chats, not their every day regular chats.

 

[adventurousplay93]

Or do not use telegram.
Telegram has been compromised by the greed of governments for your data.

Thoughts on telegrams “secret chat” feature?

 

[kyhorse]

Thoughts on telegrams “secret chat” feature?

It’s supposed to be as secure as it gets. End to end local encryption. They can still release your IP address but zero of the content. It’s what I use to talk to people.

 

[CetaceanLover23]

The safest form of end to end communication is handwriting letters. And if you are young and have lost the ability to handwrite, first of all, shame on you; Secondly, use a typewriter.

 

[AllosKisser]

Glad I only used telegram for musician stuff now.

 

[adventurousplay93]

It’s supposed to be as secure as it gets. End to end local encryption. They can still release your IP address but zero of the content. It’s what I use to talk to people.

Yeah.. I’ve been using it too. Strictly secret chats. Or I use the app Signal. I heard that’s supposed to be as private as telegram was supposed to be

 

[kyhorse]

Yeah.. I’ve been using it too. Strictly secret chats. Or I use the app Signal. I heard that’s supposed to be as private as telegram was supposed to be

They’re by no means perfect. But as myself and others have said dozens of time the app is only as secure as the user. You talk to a fed there ain’t anything you can do to protect it lol

Signal requires a login no? Telegram is completely anonymous until they tie you to an IP. Used a burner phone to register mine. I’ll never be able to recover it but it has zero identifiable info other than IP and a VPN further obfuscates that.

 

[suchada]

Beside Telegram, what other messenger is safe?

 

[PepperKick2]

Beside Telegram, what other messenger is safe?

As other's mentioned previous in this thread, Simplex is a good alternative.
It has end-to-end encryption and it does NOT require a phone number or other kind of identifying piece of information.
It also supports community chats (similar to Discord servers).

Signal is another alternative and people often find easier to use than others like SimpleX.
While Signal does require a phone number, they have proven that they don't store any usage data nor any user messages.
(A couple years back, the FBI issued a subpoena demanding a certain user's information, all Signal had was the phone number, account creation date/time, and last login date/time)
If you are in a region where you can easily obtain a prepaid SIM card, this is an easy fix to providing your personal phone number.

Both Signal and Simplex have terrific cryptographic setups and privacy-oriented design choices.
However, as a result of this these messengers may lack features that you find in apps like Discord. The reason(s) for said features not working could be due to a variety of factors, a main one being it may simply not work correctly with the encryption and the like.
Not only may they lack features, but often times they're too much of a different atmosphere for most people.

You will also encounter difficulties with cross-device access, this is due to security concerns.

 

[suchada]

Thanks

 

[Oldman]

As other's mentioned previous in this thread, Simplex is a good alternative.
It has end-to-end encryption and it does NOT require a phone number or other kind of identifying piece of information.
It also supports community chats (similar to Discord servers).

Signal is another alternative and people often find easier to use than others like SimpleX.
While Signal does require a phone number, they have proven that they don't store any usage data nor any user messages.
(A couple years back, the FBI issued a subpoena demanding a certain user's information, all Signal had was the phone number, account creation date/time, and last login date/time)
If you are in a region where you can easily obtain a prepaid SIM card, this is an easy fix to providing your personal phone number.

Both Signal and Simplex have terrific cryptographic setups and privacy-oriented design choices.
However, as a result of this these messengers may lack features that you find in apps like Discord. The reason(s) for said features not working could be due to a variety of factors, a main one being it may simply not work correctly with the encryption and the like.
Not only may they lack features, but often times they're too much of a different atmosphere for most people.

You will also encounter difficulties with cross-device access, this is due to security concerns.

Simplex is good, the other one is a hell no since it requires phone number. Session does not require number or email. I use simplex and session.

 

[jeanpaul]

Beside Telegram, what other messenger is safe?

Wire

 

[PepperKick2]

Simplex is good, the other one is a hell no since it requires phone number. Session does not require number or email. I use simplex and session.

As stated, if you have concerns about using your personal cell number (though you should never affiliate any of your real information with this kind of online activity) you can always use a prepaid SIM card.
This will get you a phone number with texting and calling capabilities meanwhile not having an identity tied to it.

If you have serious privacy concerns, you can also perform the verification/registration a town or 2 over.

Though if you have extreme privacy wants like that, you'd also want to use an entirely new cellphone on top of a new number.

Session is suspicious and is not very user-friendly. The UI is easy, but the connecting takes forever.
They also seem to push their crypto-currency a lot, which has resulted in a lot of people switching platforms.

 

[kyhorse]

If you buy a one time SIM card it doesn’t ask you for any identification and can pay cash and request a number anywhere in the country. Doesn’t get much more anonymous than that

 

[Oldman]

Sim cards are cell service and location data through cell towers is logged. Hopefully none of you have used one of those at your house or place of business.

 

[kyhorse]

Sim cards are cell service and location data through cell towers is logged. Hopefully none of you have used one of those at your house or place of business.

Uhm. You don’t keep it after you set up the account. And you don’t make the account at home. That’s just simple common sense. And we’re not terrorists.

 

[Oldman]

Uhm. You don’t keep it after you set up the account. And you don’t make the account at home. That’s just simple common sense. And we’re not terrorists.

Not everyone is going to intelligence to take out the card and not use it at home. You have a massive range of absolutely stupid ass people who think they are safe. But the terrorist thing, yeah...... all it takes is a call from LE to get location data for a number and the company will happily hand it over. Don't even need a reason other than something is being investigated.

Let's say person x stays in store parking lot, sets up device and everything then tosses everything. They are screwed. Will they have the foresight to go somewhere else? One ping, when device is registered will give time and location which is all recorded on surveillance and easily back tracked all the way to register with clear shot if their face. Will they do that for zoo peeps, probably not. But rest assured they will if they suspect they are into CP, and you know they love to lump us into that same category.

Anything can happen, best course of action is start with something that can not be traced. Burner phones leave traces everywhere.

 

[dartel]

It's also beyond stupid to spend money on something like that just so you can use a chat app "anonymously". A chat app is not worth that.

 

[Oldman]

It's also beyond stupid to spend money on something like that just so you can use a chat app "anonymously". A chat app is not worth that.

Agreed. I refuse to do that. When they hunkered down and started eliminating free numbers from their text verification, I stopped caring. For some stupid reason the fake free number I used has never been challenged, unfortunately I changed phones and now don't have that account. In a few months it will be nuked and I will never get telegram again. They have fucked themselves by bending over for LE as well.

 

[saddlebum66]

Wont do shit they will still have the record of your old number. Even if they purge from the current database... do you think they dont have backups? This is why you NEVER give out any details. Because once you hand it to someone else you have ZERO control over how it gets handled. And once you let PII slip... its out there forever.



MONERO IS NOT AS SECURE AS YOU THINK!! https://archive.ph/wKfvF

Anyone who was using a social media app tied to their phone number to do anything illegal... is an idiot.

I mean come on people... SERIOUSLY?

Are people so deluded and desperate to jerk off that they've convinced themself that someone else is going to protect them?

Yes

 

[saddlebum66]

Yeah.. I’ve been using it too. Strictly secret chats. Or I use the app Signal. I heard that’s supposed to be as private as telegram was supposed to be

Signal? You run the risk of being included in a Petey convo...
although with a drunk talking smack, it might actually BE safer....He bores the shee ittt out of his monkey handlers

 

[pes]

As stated, if you have concerns about using your personal cell number (though you should never affiliate any of your real information with this kind of online activity) you can always use a prepaid SIM card.
This will get you a phone number with texting and calling capabilities meanwhile not having an identity tied to it.

If you have serious privacy concerns, you can also perform the verification/registration a town or 2 over.

Though if you have extreme privacy wants like that, you'd also want to use an entirely new cellphone on top of a new number.

Session is suspicious and is not very user-friendly. The UI is easy, but the connecting takes forever.
They also seem to push their crypto-currency a lot, which has resulted in a lot of people switching platforms.

The problem with this in telegram was and probably still is (and might apply to other apps) that when you log out either yourself or by some other means such as an error, you will need the sim card to log back in.
Unless you have the account logged in on two devices at all times. Which is impractical and adds another attack possibility.
Sim cards if unused will be deactivated in about 6 months and then you have to pay again to activate them. So you can not really toss them for this reason.

 

[DomGp]

Is it the SimpleX app that is meant and named in the threads before?

 

[K9GuyinTX]

Wire

I really liked Wire and used it for a number of years. The problem with Wire, is that they moved their HQ from Luxembourg to the US and they now have some seemingly sketchy associations with big data. Rise and Fall of Wire

Simplex is GREAT. The only problem I see is it being essentially a mobile-only platform. They do offer a desktop version, but it must be synced with the mobile app and operating on the same local network.

 

[allyfitz]

Signal? You run the risk of being included in a Petey convo...

Not to mention you're on what IMHO is a honeypot...
Anyone ever checked to see who's on the Foundation behind Signal?

Signal Foundation

Protecting free expression and enabling secure global communication through open source privacy technology.

signalfoundation.org

3 of the 5 are prior US Government employees (Amba, Katherine, Meredith) ... and 2 of the 5 are WEF members, aka... inter-government social club for the rich and powerful (Jay and Katherine).
No way that group wants to give privacy and control to commoners.

 

[saddlebum66]

Not to mention you're on what IMHO is a honeypot...
Anyone ever checked to see who's on the Foundation behind Signal?

Signal Foundation

Protecting free expression and enabling secure global communication through open source privacy technology.

signalfoundation.org

3 of the 5 are prior US Government employees (Amba, Katherine, Meredith) ... and 2 of the 5 are WEF members, aka... inter-government social club for the rich and powerful (Jay and Katherine).
No way that group wants to give privacy and control to commoners.

Learn something every day....although it is not unexpected. This explains why Pete the Drunk uses it slavishly, and why, when it was taken off the approved list at the Pentagon, it remained accessible to the less-savvy of the people in Government.
Idiots are like a skunk at the dogshow....You can paint out the stripe, but they still have that "air of distinction" about them.

 

[2lovedogs]

Not to mention you're on what IMHO is a honeypot...
Anyone ever checked to see who's on the Foundation behind Signal?

Signal Foundation

Protecting free expression and enabling secure global communication through open source privacy technology.

signalfoundation.org

3 of the 5 are prior US Government employees (Amba, Katherine, Meredith) ... and 2 of the 5 are WEF members, aka... inter-government social club for the rich and powerful (Jay and Katherine).
No way that group wants to give privacy and control to commoners.

I didn't know this, but also not surprised. I never created a Signal account and only had a Telegram account for a very short time and I was suspicious of that at the time too.

I really wish there was a platform I felt I could trust, but at this point, if I want to have that, I'm going to have to spend way too much time making and maintaining my own. I just don't have that kind of time and resources in my life.

The closest I have is Tor running on Tails. Even then, no account I use for anything else at all is associated with anything I do while using Tails.