Key Highlights
- Telegram has added a new privacy feature to its app
- Users no longer need a SIM card to use Telegram
- Users can sign in using blockchain-powered anonymous numbers
Telegram, an instant messaging platform, has upgraded its app with a number of new features. The revised sign-up procedure is one of the significant modifications. Now, users no longer need a phone number to sign-up for using Telegram. Before, in order to create a Telegram account, users had to enter their mobile number. In addition, the update added Topics 2.0 for groups, automated message deletion for new chats, and aggressive anti-spam.
With the most recent update, users can now register for an account using blockchain-powered anonymous numbers offered by the Fragment platform, according to Telegram. Before, the app let users control who could see their number and search for them by phone number, but the procedure would still need a SIM card.
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Questions Around Anonymity
Although the network guarantees users’ privacy, some critics are raising concerns about the technology. Users’ identities are compromised because there is no other way for them to purchase a number other than with Telegram’s native token, which links the entire transaction chain to their ID.
Experts also stated that in order to guarantee anonymity and prevent users from disclosing their wallet IDs to Telegram when purchasing anonymous numbers, Telegram should have let users sign up using an email ID.
Auto-delete Feature Added
The new update also added an auto-delete feature to the app, allowing users to set a global timer to automatically delete all messages in new chats. This is an update to the Self Destruct Message update released in 2013.
However, you can easily expand your auto-delete settings to any existing chats via the new menu in Settings > Privacy & Security > Auto-Delete Messages. It should be noted that the auto-delete option will not affect current chats.
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