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Telegram Is Offering a Free Premium Subscription but with a Catch

George Kamau by George Kamau
March 26, 2024
in News
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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Telegram vs Plus Messenger

Telegram has launched its opt-in Peer-to-Peer Login program on its Android app that allows the messaging app to use your phone number to send OTP(One Time Passwords) to other users.

When you agree to be part of this program, Telegram will use your number and it will send up to 150 texts with OTP to other users trying to log in to the app. Telegram then gifts you a one-month free premium subscription.

This means the SMS texts sent by Telegram will be billed to you as they won’t pay the carrier chargers.

Some of the benefits of having a premium subscription are you get to use paid features for free like:

  • 4GB file uploads
  • increased download speeds
  • new premium icon
  • zero ads
  • voice and video message transcriptions
  • animated profile pictures
  • the ability to follow up to 1000 Channels, create up to 20 chat folders with 200 chats each
  • add a fourth account to any Telegram app.
  • pin up to 10 chats and save up 10 favourite stickers
  • write a longer bio and add a link as well.

But here’s the catch.

Agreeing to this program means that your phone number will be visible to the recipient of the OTP code. Telegram says that you shouldn’t engage in messaging with the recipient but there’s no way they’ll enforce that.

Telegram claims that this P2PL program will make receiving the OTP codes via SMS more reliable in select areas but privacy enthusiasts are calling this a privacy nightmare, especially with how Telegram boasts as a privacy-focussed messaging app.

This is objectively terrible for users.

It's a loss of privacy, a compromise of security and users have to foot the bill for SMS fraud.

I'm genuinely not sure what telegram is cooking here, if you're in a high volume region, cut sms as MFA and enforce totp or webauthn. https://t.co/TLEqrLrW1O

— Panley (@panley01) March 25, 2024

This is quite a security risk exposing your number to strangers when Signal, another privacy messaging is trying to get rid of numbers and switch to usernames to talk to other Signal users. Usernames make it easy to connect with other users without sharing your phone number.

We’ve written before that if you really care about digital privacy, Signal is a better option instead of Telegram as an encrypted messaging platform when switching from WhatsApp.

Moving From WhatsApp? Signal Is a Far Better Option Than Telegram For Your Privacy

Until they clear up the details and ensure you privacy is protected under this program, then do not sign up.

Signal: Tips To Protect Your Privacy and Help You Stay Secure

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Here’s how to protect your privacy and stay secure on:

  • Facebook
  • Telegram
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • WhatsApp
  • Signal
  • TikTok
  • Google, Microsoft, Apple, Linkedin, Yahoo, and Amazon
Tags: SignalTelegramWhatsApp
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George Kamau

George Kamau

I brunch on consumer tech | [email protected]

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