Messenger didn’t delete files at all

The Telegram messenger is becoming more and more popular, but it is not one of the most secure messengers on the market. Suddenly a malfunction was noticed which did not delete files even though they should have been deleted. GIGA has the details for you.

Telegram didn’t actually delete files

The Telegram Messenger has a function with which files are automatically deleted after a certain period of time. This function can be used in “secret chat”, where all messages are automatically encrypted end-to-end, which is not possible in normal chat. If you activate the automatic deletion function, content is automatically removed from all devices after a certain period of time. According to a security analyst, this did not happen on macOS. The loophole existed because audio and video files from secret chats were placed in the same folder as normal chats. This meant that they could still be accessed even though they should have been deleted. The security researcher also discovered that Telegram saved the passcode in plain text.

Both security gaps existed in version 7.3 of Telegram and have now been closed in version 7.4. If you use the old version of the messenger, you should definitely bring it up to date so that you are no longer affected by the problem. Telegram pays security researchers, like other companies, to find vulnerabilities. So the messenger gets better and safer over time.

WhatsApp alternatives increasingly popular

Lately, messengers like Telegram, Signal and Threema have experienced a real boom after WhatsApp wanted to enforce the new terms of use. Many users felt insecure and switched to messenger. Meanwhile, WhatsApp has postponed the introduction and is trying to restore its reputation. When switching, however, you should pay close attention to which messenger is really secure.