Telegram has gained a growing reputation for being the somewhat hippie and, as some may think, the more secure alternative to WhatsApp or Messenger, something on par with the Signal app, although perhaps better known. However, Telegram’s reputation for offering any additional level of cybersecurity is overstated – a fact pointed out by Signal’s own founder, Moxie Marlinspike, this week.

He went on to say that in this regard, even Facebook’s Messenger and WhatsApp offer more privacy than Telegram. Both of these apps, run by the now renowned company Meta, offer at least end-to-end encryption for all text messages sent through their platforms.

This is a reality that is viewed as unacceptable even by the standards of Facebook, which is known for its neglect of personal privacy online. Even Messenger offers the minimum standard end-to-end encryption protocol for data stored on its servers. However, anyone with access to Telegram’s services has direct access to the entire database of unprotected user data.

The point is, if someone, like a hacker or even an authority who suspects you, has an interest in spying on your personal messages in Telegram, they could easily do so. Moxie Marlinspike is also not the first to shed light on Telegram’s false reputation and its methods of operation.