I know it has taken some friends from my phones contact list, so that's a thing to watch out for, and skype as well.

Yeah, it grabbed my contact list and brutalized it.

Yeah, I wasn't happy that it grabbed my skype contacts. Automatic syncing always bothers me, but I do like the way it functions. That's about the only problem I've had with it, though.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you basically have to remove people from your Telegram list as soon as you install it.

I didn't install anything, I only made a username, added my phone number and use the web browser version, no contacts to share or anything.

i didnt even know it could add from other things besides phone contacts O_o

Telegram, euch. Good luck pal.

Even without the contact list shenanigans, Telegram is generally seen as being a security hazard. There are a lot of folk who believe they are hoping in vain for Telegram to get some kind of security update.

I'm curious as to what security issues telegram has? Is there a write up about this?

Seconded, I want to know how Telegram is a security risk.

"Q: How secure is Telegram?

Telegram is more secure than mass market messengers like WhatsApp and Line. We are based on the MTProto protocol (see description and advanced FAQ), built upon time-tested algorithms to make security compatible with high-speed delivery and reliability on weak connections. We are continuously working with the community to improve the security of our protocol and clients."

"Q: So how do you encrypt data?

We support two layers of secure encryption. Server-client encryption is used in Cloud Chats (private and group chats), Secret Chats use an additional layer of client-client encryption. All data, regardless of type, is encrypted in the same way — be it text, media or files.

Our encryption is based on 256-bit symmetric AES encryption, RSA 2048 encryption, and Diffie–Hellman secure key exchange. You can find more info in the Advanced FAQ."

"Q: Why should I trust you?

Telegram is open, anyone can check our source code, protocol and API, see how everything works and make an informed decision. In fact, we welcome security experts to audit our system and would appreciate any feedback (security@telegram.org).

On top of that, Telegram is not intended to bring a profit, so commercial interests will never interfere with our mission."

source: https://telegram.org/faq#q-how-secure-is-telegram

As I understand it, it is 100% telephone number based. If it finds a phone number in your phone's contact list that someone else has bound to a Telegram account, it shows you that person is on Telegram and adds them to your local list of contacts.

That relationship is only one way, it does not automatically notify them because you have their number. It will notify them if they have YOUR phone number that you used for Telegram, so it's a good idea to use a number that nobody else has, such as a Google Voice number.

In short, anyone who has your phone number can see you, and there's nothing you can do about that

Since it has you log in on your phone number thru an SMS message and uses your data/wifi, it is entirely phone number based, so it will go thru your contacts and add anyone that also has Telegram. There is an option to block users, but I've yet to use this feature and see how it works.

I got nothing but then again I never used my phone number for anything else, and that's probably the only piece of info you could give that would be possible to link up with other programs.

Nope no clue vo3ov

It's only phone # based! Otherwise it's actually a great, secure, anonymous messenger run by a non profit

Pretty much Telegram is an alternate option for texting people if you are using an iPod Touch or using a computer (as they have a Computer App or on Website version of it) if you can't use a phone at the moment to get a hold of someone, almost like in case of an emergency kind of thing. If you have anyone in your contacts, it will ask if you want to send an invite, but that is absolutely optional.

As for people that have it and are already in your contacts, you can choose if you want to add that person or not on there, it won't ask for your Facebook, Google, or any Social Media accounts to look up friends, just ones in your phone's contacts and if they have it or not. It's a "if you want to add them then it's fine" kind of invite system.

I have Telegram but I rarely use it cause I use Skype all the time for obvious reasons -w- But it's still a great service and it's fast, easy to know if someone seen the message and is writing back AND also: Stickers XP

Hope this helps~

When you do block contacts, they can't see your avatar or when you're online, or anything really, they only know you got Telegram, but you appear to not be using it at all (as if it were blank account ). Inever got bothered or message by users who i blocked (cause i don't want them to see stuff i post/have)

i prefer discord over telegram cause the group feature is way better.

you can make different themed chats on a group so not everyone has to look at that one guys scat fetish or another person paw fetish etc.


only thing telegram has discord doesn't is the sticker feature

Telegram also has data encryption. Discord doesn't.

You're using google hangouts? Please add me: vexorum at gmail dot com.

There are 3 ways to talk to people on telegram.

Searching their username (their @ if they even set one up)

Messaging someone else/being in a group with them.

Phone numbers: anyone with your actual phone number in their contacts (the actual contacts, not Facebook, Skype, etc...) will be able to see you and vis versa. It notifies people when one of their contacts joins telegram for the first time.

This is why I use a Google voice number for mine.

I personally like Telegram as a good Skype alternative since it seems to bug out far less than Skype. Also, the sticker function is a great feature as well! xD

Telegram uses your phone number to create an account, and everyone on Telegram who has your contact number on their phone will be told you just made a Telegram account as soon as you make one.

If you don't want this to happen, you have to get a different phone number, just for Telegram.

Reiterating, whoever says Telegram grabs Skype or Facebook contacts is incorrect. It only advertises the fact that you got Telegram to people who already use Telegram and who also already have your phone number in their contacts on a phone that is running Telegram.

I was kindof pissed that Telegram took my phone contacts and sent a notice to everyone in my contacts list who had Telegram that I was running it. Uhhh, thanks for asking? Right out of the gate that's a red flag that they don't intend to respect my privacy very much, and that comes with the very first interaction.

O_O well.... with all the negative comments i can say the furry community on there is pretty good, but it does need some more macro furs, that's for sure

Usually what i do is go under a different name. I havent downloaded telegram yet but it looks promising. Like palringo and kik had a baby.

You can add me as geltydrake hehee