Experts say Telegram’s ’30 engineers’ team is a security red flag

A recent interview with Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov has sparked concerns among security experts. In the interview, Durov claimed to be the only product manager at the company, with only about 30 engineers on staff.

Experts point out that Telegram’s lack of end-to-end encryption by default, its use of proprietary encryption, and its limited staff raise red flags for user security.

Eva Galperin from the Electronic Frontier Foundation highlights the risks associated with Telegram’s dual role as a messaging app and social media platform, emphasizing the lack of resources for legal requests, abuse handling, and content moderation.

Concerns are further heightened by the observation that Telegram may not be well-equipped to combat cyber threats due to its small team.

Despite these concerns, Telegram did not respond to inquiries about its security measures or staff dedicated to cybersecurity.

SwiftOnSecurity notes the significant costs associated with maintaining robust cybersecurity measures, suggesting that even the largest companies may not invest enough in this area.

With nearly one billion users, Telegram remains a popular platform for various groups, making it an attractive target for hackers. However, its limited cybersecurity team raises doubts about its ability to protect user data effectively.

In light of recent revelations from Durov, security experts caution against viewing Telegram as a secure messaging app, emphasizing the potential risks associated with its security practices.