Since Durov refused to comply, Russia banned Telegram in 2018. The Russian government continued to apply pressure to get certain user details for political reasons.

Durov now lives in Dubai which also serves as the operational center for Telegram, though the company’s headquarters is in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. He cited his fear of government surveillance and denounced new shareholder relationships. In fact, in 2014, he sold his shares in VKontakte and fled the country.

While working on his first project in 2006, VKontakte (a social networking site), he started to experience pressure from the Kremlin to release certain user data. Telegram was developed by Pavel Durov dubbed the “Mark Zuckerburg of Russia” for the app’s widespread success. Telegram prides itself on security, claiming to have more integrity than Meta, but is Telegram safe? A brief history of Telegram It is powerful and secure, offering encrypted chats and allowing groups of up to 200,000 people at once.

This means the learning curve for new users is generally small, with the bonus of theme and aesthetic customization. One of its most notable features is a streamlined interface that mimics other instant messaging services. This makes synchronization easier for those who have devices of different brands. Telegram is available on every major operating system. It was released nine years ago, close to when Facebook (now Meta) acquired WhatsApp, which is still the leading messaging platform on the market (with billions of downloads). Telegram is a secure messaging service that allows users to reach their contacts without having to provide a phone number. Unfortunately, despite the protective features the platform boasts, you have to consciously arm your Telegram account with encryption and use secret messages with every new chat for any solid protection.

But is Telegram safe to use? The short answer is: not by default, but Telegram could be safe to use for most people. One of the most popular messaging services is Telegram for its speed, cross-platform integration, and global availability. It now offers new ways to connect with friends, family, and business partners through a multitude of direct messaging platforms. The modern smartphone has advanced far beyond making calls.

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