Cover image via thedailybeastAfter the attacks on Paris last Friday which resulted in the death of at least 120 people, ISIS has since claimed responsibility of the attack through a messaging app called Telegram
Image via Associated Press
For years, terrorist organisations like the Islamic State have been finding a suitable platform to propagate ideals and messages. With secure messaging apps like Telegram, the search seems to have come to an end.
Image via R-E-E-D
So, what's so special about Telegram?
For starters, it is a messaging app that offers end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages.
Image via Telegram
Started by brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov from Russia, Telegram uses a special algorithm that encrypts all messages. So confident is the company in their technology that it held a cracking contest to beat their security system – no one was able to crack the code.
Image via Telegram
The company claimed that there are more than 500 million users sending over 1 billion messages per day – somewhere in that mix are an unknown number of jihadists
According to reports, ISIS distributes between 10 to 20 messages and videos a day. Many jihadi-groups buy weapons off the app too.
However, the company is unapologetic with the concerns of terrorists using the app – citing the right to privacy is much more important than the fear of terrorism
While apps like SnapChat and Secret have claimed to be privacy-focused apps, they have suffered from information leakage and privacy disclosure. For now, Telegram is ISIS's new "it" app—until they find another.
Image via Telegram
