What Is Telegram And How Does It Work?

To answer the main question, "What is Telegram and how does it work?", let's break it down into two parts: what Telegram is and how it functions.

What is Telegram?

1. Overview:

   • Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging service that was launched in 2013. It is known for its speed and security features.
   • It was founded by Nikolai and Pavel Durov and has grown to over 950 million monthly active users as of 2024.
   • Telegram is available on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux.

2. Features:

   • Telegram offers messaging, media sharing, voice and video calls, and social networking features like channels and stories.
   • It supports group chats with up to 200,000 members and channels for broadcasting messages to unlimited subscribers.
   • Users can send messages, create group chats, and start Secret Chats, which are fully encrypted.

3. Security and Privacy:

   • Telegram uses the MTProto encryption protocol and offers end-to-end encryption for Secret Chats.
   • It provides privacy options like hiding last seen status, phone number, and profile photo.
   • Users can set up two-step verification and remote logout for additional security.

4. Customization and Usability:

   • Telegram allows customization of notifications, font size, backgrounds, and night mode.
   • It supports features like message editing, deletion, and scheduling, as well as animated stickers and GIFs.

How does Telegram work?

1. Account Setup:

   • To use Telegram, users must verify their phone number via SMS. They can set a display name and a four-digit PIN for account protection.

2. Messaging and Communication:

   • Telegram allows users to send text messages, media, and files up to 2 GB in size. Messages can be accessed from multiple devices without needing the phone connected.
   • Secret Chats offer client-to-client encryption and self-destructing messages for enhanced privacy.

3. Group and Channel Communication:

   • Users can create group chats with up to 200,000 members and channels for one-way communication to unlimited subscribers.
   • Features like polls, reactions, and anonymous forwarding enhance group interactions.

4. Additional Features:

   • Telegram supports bots for various functionalities, including games and news updates.
   • Users can organize chats into folders, pin messages, and set reminders.

5. Security Concerns:

   • While Telegram offers many security features, its default text chats are not end-to-end encrypted, unlike some competitors like Signal and WhatsApp.
   • Security experts have criticized Telegram's cryptography as untested for sensitive information.

In summary, Telegram is a versatile messaging platform that combines speed, security, and a wide range of features to facilitate communication across multiple devices. It offers both public and private communication options, with a focus on user privacy and customization. However, users should be aware of its security limitations, especially regarding default chat encryption.