Telegram says it only has “30 engineers”; security experts say it is. . . not good

On THE weekend, A clip Since A recent interview with Telegram founder Paul Durov went semi-viral on X (previously Twitter). In THE video, Durov tell Right wing personality Tucker Carlson that he East THE only product director has THE business, And that he only job "about 30 engineers. »

Security experts say that while Durov was bragging about her Based in Dubai business be "great effective," What he said was In fact A red flag For users.

"Without from start to finish encryption, huge Numbers of vulnerable targets, And waiters located In THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES? Seems as that would be be A security nightmare," Matthew Green, A cryptography expert has Johns Hopkins University, said TechCrunch.

Green was referent has THE do that — by default — discussions on Telegram are not from start to finish crypt as they are on Signal Or WhatsApp. A Telegram user has has to start A "Secret Cat" has to change on from start to finish encryption, manufacturing THE posts illegible has Telegram Or anybody other that THE destined RECIPIENT. Also, on THE years, a lot people to have casting doubt on THE quality of Telegram encryption, given that THE business uses It is own owner encryption algorithm, created by that of Durov brother, as he said In A extended version of THE Carlson interview.  

Eva Galperine, THE director of cyber security has THE Electronic Border Foundation And A long duration expert In THE security of at risk users, said that It is important has remember that Telegram, contrary to Signal, East A plot more that just A Messaging application. 

"What makes Telegram different (And a lot worse!) East that Telegram East not just A Messaging application, he East Also A social media platform. As A social media platform, he East session on A huge Rising of user data. Indeed, he East session on THE Content of all communications that are not face to face posts that to have has been specifically [from start to finish] encrypted, » Galperine said TechCrunch. "'Thirty engineers means that there East No A has struggle legal requests, there East No Infrastructure For transaction with abuse And content moderation problems. »

"And I would be even argue that THE quality of those 30 engineers is not it that great," Galperine continued. "Also, if I was A threat actor, I would be certainly consider This has be encouraging news. Each attacker love A deeply understaffed And overworked opponent. »

In other words, It is unlikely For Telegram has be very effective struggle the Pirates, especially government supported those, with such A little personal.

Telegram did not answer has A request For comment, which included questions on if THE business has A chief security officer, And how a lot of It is engineers work complete time on to secure THE platform.

Last week, THE well known cyber security expert SwiftOnSecurity wrote on X that "THE cost has run A business that has all THE RIGHT cyber security tools And staff East absolutely obscene. »

"It is hard has describe THE Numbers I have seen. Even saying This East A gray area. But he East [A] amazing effective And spend," SwiftOnSecurity wrote. 

All has say, even THE the biggest companies on THE planet probably don't do it spend enough money, time And energy on to secure themselves. Telegram has almost A billion users, according to has Durov. It is A of THE most popular platforms For people functioning In crypto (WHO move millions of dollars), the extremists, the Pirates And disinformation peddlers. 

That makes he A incredibly interesting target For both criminal And government the Pirates. And he has — has most — just A handle of people dedicated has cyber security. 

For years, security experts to have