What is Telegram?

What is Telegram and how is it different from other messaging applications?
Messaging applications have become our favorite means of communication, offering us the possibility to communicate with our friends anytime and anywhere. And if Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp are the most famous of all, there is an application that has recently emerged to disrupt the market claiming to be the most secure of all. This application is called Telegram Messenger.

What is Telegram?

Telegram is an online messaging app that works like the popular messaging apps WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. This means that you can use it to send messages to your friends when you are connected to Wi-Fi or your mobile data. Telegram is cloud-based and claims that it prioritizes security and speed, making it a good alternative to other popular messaging apps. The service was launched in 2013, and since then it has reached 200 million active monthly users.

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Distinctive features

Founded by Russian Pavel Durov, who is also behind Russia's largest social network VKontakte (VK), Telegram claims to combine the speed of WhatApp with the ephemerality of Snapchat. Like WhatsApp, Telegram also has the ability to post a friend's status online and to attach and share photos, videos, location, contacts and documents.

The special feature of Telegram is security. It claims that the entire functionality of Telegram including chats, groups and media shared between participants, are encrypted. This means that they will not be visible without being decrypted first. The app also allows you to set self-destruct timers on the messages and media you share, which can range from two seconds to a week with its built-in "Secret Chat" feature. It also offers end-to-end encryption, leaving no trace on Telegram's servers.

It is also possible to verify the security of your "secret conversations" by using an image as an encryption key. By comparing your encryption key with that of a friend, you can effectively verify that your conversation is secure and less vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks.

How to use Telegram?

Telegram can be used and installed like other messaging apps. You can download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store - look for the paper airplane logo. Once the app is installed, you will be prompted to enter your phone number, then add your name and a photo. The next step is to find friends and start a chat.

The application can be used on all your digital devices: smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers. Telegram is available for Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows NT, macOS and Linux.

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