Unlike Signal, Telegram chats are not end-to-end encrypted. You only get encryption on the server side. But if you want full encryption, you must enter a separate secret chat mode. Here’s how to start an encrypted secret chat in Telegram.
What is secret chat in Telegram?
In terms of security and privacy, Telegram is much better than popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Telegram is open source and all the code is available online for verification by security experts.
But by default, Telegram only provides encryption on the server side. Telegram synchronizes your data (messages, media and groups) between all your devices and loads it on its servers by default. All data on the Telegram server is encrypted. This means that you are safe from your ISP, Wi-Fi router intercept and other third parties.
But Telegram itself can still access your data (if they really want to). According to Telegram, the coding method is the best compromise for features and security. Your large groups, channels and media are all backed up and instantly available on all your devices and are encrypted in the cloud. If you trust Telegram to protect your data, you need not worry.
On the other hand, if you want end-to-end encryption where no one (including Telegram) has access to your data, you need to enter a separate mode called Secret Chat.
Secret chat mode only works for one-on-one conversations and not for groups (of any size). Once you enter the secret chat mode, Telegram enables end-to-end encryption. This means that only you and the recipient can read the messages, as they are only stored on your devices and not on Telegram’s servers. No one else has access to or decrypts the messages, including Telegram.
Messages in secret chat can not be forwarded, and if you take a screenshot, the recipient will be notified. When you delete a message, it is deleted for both users.
Because secret chat messages are device specific, they are only available on the device with which you start the chat. If you log out of the current device, you will also lose the secret chat. And once you delete the conversation, all the messages from the conversation will also disappear.
Once the secret chat starts, you can chat like you always do. Optionally, you can enable a self-destruct timer (like Instagram or WhatsApp), where all messages disappear after a set time once the message is displayed on the recipient’s screen.
RELATED: How to send disappearing messages in WhatsApp
How to start an encrypted secret chat in Telegram
Now that you understand how the secret chat feature works, let’s look at it in practice. The steps for iPhone and Android are the same, but the interface is different.
If you’re using an iPhone, tap the contact name at the top of the conversation to get started.
Tap the “More” button here.
Select the “Start secret chat” option in the pop-up window.
Select the “Start” button to confirm.
If you’re using an Android smartphone, tap the name of your contact at the top of the conversation.
Tap the three-point menu button in the upper right corner of the screen.
Now select the option “Start secret chat”.
Confirm from the popup by tapping the “Start” button.
You have now entered the secret chat mode. Secret chat conversations appear separately in the Telegram chat list and you can identify secret chats using the lock icon next to the user’s name.
You can now send messages in the chat as you wish.
How to enable self-destruct mode in secret chat in Telegram
To make your communication even more secure, you can enable a self-destruct feature. Once switched on, all the exchanges forward automatically disappear after the set time (once displayed on the screen of the receiver).
On your iPhone, tap the stopwatch icon in the text box.
Then select the self-destruct timer you want to set. You can set it to one second in a week. Tap “Done” after selecting your timer.
Tap on your Android smartphone on the stopwatch icon from the top toolbar.
Then select the self-destruct timer and tap the “Done” button to set it.
To turn off the timer, tap the stopwatch icon again, select the “Off” button, and tap the “Done” button.
How to leave the secret mode in Telegram
As mentioned above, on Telegram you can have two different conversations with the same person. One in standard mode and one in secret chat mode.
But if you’ve finished a conversation and want to delete all the data and close the secret chat, you may be looking for an exit or lock button. The only way to leave a secret chat is to delete the conversation.
To do this on your iPhone, go to the conversation view in Telegram and swipe left of the conversation.
From here, tap the “Delete” button.
From the popup, tap the “Delete Chat” button to confirm.
If you are using an Android smartphone, open the Secret Chat and tap on the three-point menu icon from the top toolbar.
Select the “Delete Chat” button here.
Select the “Delete chat” option in the pop-up window.
The secret chat conversation will now be removed from your device. If you want to send end-to-end encrypted messages again, you need to restart the secret chat.
If you want end-to-end encryption for all your chats and groups, Signal may be a good option for you. Here’s how Signal compares to Telegram when it comes to privacy and features.
RELATED: Signal vs. Telegram: What is the best chat program?