Telegram Data Leaks: What You Should Know

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While Telegram has built a reputation on its commitment to privacy and secure communication, it's crucial for users to be aware of the nuances of its security model and the instances where user data has been exposed, even if not directly due to a "breach" of Telegram's core systems. Understanding these past incidents and the general risks can help users make informed decisions about their privacy on the platform.

A key point of distinction lies in Telegram's default chat encryption. Unlike some other popular messengers, Telegram's regular cloud chats are not end-to-end encrypted by default. While telegram data messages are encrypted in transit between your device and Telegram's servers, and on the servers themselves, Telegram technically holds the encryption keys for these chats. This cloud storage facilitates multi-device syncing and message history, but also means that if Telegram's servers were ever compromised, this data could theoretically be accessed. "Secret Chats," on the other hand, are end-to-end encrypted, meaning only the sender and recipient can read them, and Telegram itself has no access.

One notable type of "leak" associated with Telegram has involved abuse of its contact import feature. In 2020, for example, a database containing millions of Telegram user IDs and phone numbers, primarily from Iran and Russia, was exposed on darknet forums. This data was reportedly compiled by malicious users exploiting a feature that allows Telegram to inform you when your phone contacts join the app. By uploading large lists of phone numbers, attackers could match them with Telegram user IDs. While Telegram stated this was a common vulnerability for "any contacts-based app," it highlights a potential for exposure of personal identifiers if privacy settings related to phone number visibility are not carefully managed.

More recently, particularly in 2024, there have been significant reports of combolists and stealer logs being posted and traded on malicious Telegram channels. These are not direct breaches of Telegram's internal systems, but rather the platform being used as a distribution channel for data stolen from other sources (e.g., malware on users' computers, or credentials from other websites). These dumps, often containing email addresses, usernames, and passwords, underscore the broader threat of information-stealing malware. Users who reuse passwords across multiple services are particularly vulnerable, as a breach on one site can lead to their Telegram (and other) accounts being compromised if those stolen credentials are then shared on platforms like Telegram.

Furthermore, there have been instances where vulnerabilities in Telegram's proprietary MTProto encryption protocol have been identified by researchers. While Telegram has historically maintained the robustness of MTProto, cryptographic flaws have been discovered (e.g., in 2021). Telegram has typically patched these vulnerabilities once disclosed, but such findings highlight the ongoing need for rigorous security audits, particularly for custom-built encryption schemes.

What you should know and do:

Default vs. Secret Chats: Understand that regular chats are not end-to-end encrypted by default. For truly private conversations, always use "Secret Chats."
Phone Number Privacy: Be mindful of your privacy settings regarding who can see your phone number on Telegram. You can restrict this to your contacts or nobody.
Two-Step Verification: Always enable Two-Step Verification (2FA) for your Telegram account. This adds a password layer to your login, even if your phone number is compromised, making it much harder for unauthorized access.
Unique Passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts, and consider a password manager. This mitigates the risk from combolist leaks.
Be Wary of Links and Files: Exercise caution when clicking on suspicious links or downloading files, even from seemingly legitimate sources, as they could be malware designed to steal your credentials.
Monitor for Compromise: Regularly check services like Have I Been Pwned to see if your email address or phone number has appeared in any data breaches.
While Telegram has strong security features and a privacy-centric philosophy, no platform is entirely immune to data exposure, whether directly through internal vulnerabilities or indirectly through broader cybercrime activities. Proactive user practices remain the best defense against data leaks and account compromises.