While, at the other end of the spectrum \u2014 for those really wanting to be really sure they totally nuke all message trace \u2014 there are a couple of practical pitfalls that could throw a spanner in the works. <\/span><\/p>\nIn our tests we found Telegram\u2019s implementation did not delete push notifications. So with recently sent and deleted messages it was still possible to view the content of a deleted message via a persisting push notification even after the message itself had been deleted within the app.<\/p>\n
Though of course, for historical chats \u2014 which is where this feature is being aimed; aka rewriting chat history \u2014 there\u2019s not likely to be any push notifications still floating around months or even years later to cause a headache.<\/p>\n
The other major issue is the feature is unlikely to function properly on earlier versions of Telegram. So if you go ahead and \u2018delete everywhere\u2019 there\u2019s no way back to try and delete a message again if it was not successfully purged everywhere because someone in the chat was still running an older version of Telegram.<\/p>\n
Plus of course if anyone has screengrabbed your chats already there\u2019s nothing you can do about that.<\/p>\n
In terms of wider impact, the nuclear delete might also have the effect of encouraging more screengrabbing (or other backups) \u2014 as users hedge against future message manipulation and\/or purging. Or to make sure they have a record of any abusive messages.<\/p>\n
Which would just create more copies of your private messages in places you can\u2019t at all control and where they could potentially leak if the person creating the backups doesn\u2019t secure them properly \u2014 so the whole thing risks being counterproductive to privacy and security, really. Because users are being encouraged to mistrust everything.<\/p>\n
Durov claims he\u2019s comfortable with the contents of his own Telegram inbox, writing on his channel that \u201cthere\u2019s not much I would want to delete for both sides\u201d \u2014 while simultaneously claiming that \u201cfor the first time in 23 years of private messaging, I feel truly free and in control\u201d.<\/p>\n
The truth is the sensation of control he\u2019s feeling is fleeting and relative.<\/p>\n
In another test we performed we were able to delete private messages from Durov\u2019s own inbox, including missives we\u2019d sent to him in a private chat and one he\u2019d sent us. (At least, in so far as we could tell \u2014 not having access to Telegram servers to confirm. But the delete option was certainly offered and content (both ours and his) disappeared from our end after we hit the relevant purge button.)<\/p>\n
Only Durov could confirm for sure that the messages have gone from his end too. And most probably he\u2019d have trouble doing so as it would require incredible memory for minor detail.<\/p>\n
But the point is if the deletion functioned as Telegram claims it does, purging equally at both ends, then Durov was not in control at all because we reached right into his inbox and selectively rubbed some stuff out. He got no say at all.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a funny kind of agency and a funny kind of control.<\/p>\n
One thing certainly remains in Telegram users\u2019 control: The ability to choose your friends \u2014 and choose who you talk to privately.<\/p>\n
Turns out you need to exercise that power very wisely.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, well, other encrypted messaging apps are available\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Telegram has added a feature that lets a user delete messages in one-to-one and\/or group private chats, after the fact, and not only from their own inbox. The new \u2018nuclear option\u2019 delete feature allows a user to selectively delete their own messages and\/or messages sent by any\/all others in the chat. They don\u2019t even have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[5257,1009,10,1076,5258,236,2408],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Telegram adds delete everywhere nuclear option killing chat history - Adept Asia Consulting<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n