How does telegram account self-destruct work?
Telegram is not a commercial organization and we value our storage space very much. If you stop using Telegram and are not online for at least six months, your account will be deleted along with all the messages, media files, contacts and any other data you have stored in the Telegram cloud. You can change the exact time your inactive account will self-destruct in Settings. You can also telegram fake members from adsmember.
My phone was stolen, what should I do?
First of all, we're sorry about your phone. Unfortunately, the phone number is currently the only way to identify a Telegram user. We do not collect additional information about you. So whoever has the number has the account. This means we can't help you if you don't have access to the phone number or Telegram itself on any of your devices.
I can access Telegram from another device.
Go to Telegram Settings - Privacy and Security and turn on Two-Step Verification. This way the phone number alone will not be enough to log into your account.
Go to Settings - Privacy and Security - Active Sessions and end your Telegram session on the old device. Whoever has your phone won't be able to log in again because they don't know your password.
Contact your phone provider so they can block your old SIM card and issue a new one with your number.
If you decide to switch to a new phone number, don't forget to go to Settings and tap your phone number and change your Telegram number to the new phone number.
I don't have access to Telegram from any other device.
First of all, you need to contact your phone provider so that they block your old SIM card and create a new one with your number.
Wait until you get your new SIM card with the old number, sign in to Telegram, then go to Settings - Privacy & Security - Active Sessions and end your Telegram session on the old device.
Removing sensitive data
Most thieves usually throw out the SIM card right away (the phone is harder to find that way), then wipe the devices and sell them. So there is not much risk to data in case of regular petty theft. However, if you have reasons to worry about the data on the device and you can't sign out on the other device, it's best to wipe it remotely. You can learn more about it here: Apple iOS, Android. Unfortunately, this scenario requires you to be prepared in advance.
If you're signed in from at least one of your other devices (mobile or desktop), you can delete your Telegram account. Note that inactive Telegram accounts automatically self-destruct after a period of 6 months, which is the default setting.
boots
If you're a developer, you may find our Bots FAQ more helpful.
What are bots?
Bots are like small programs that run inside Telegram. Bots are made by third-party developers using the Telegram Bot API.
How can I create a bot?
Telegram bots are very easy to create. But it requires at least some skills in computer programming. If you're sure you can, Introduction for Developers is a good place to start.
Unfortunately, there is no ready-made way to create a working bot if you are not a developer. But we're sure you'll find lots of bots created by other people to play with soon.
A bot is sending me a message, how do I stop it?
If you don't want a bot to message you, feel free to block it as you would a human user. Some Telegram clients have a 'Stop Bot' button in the bot profile.
However, most bot developers offer commands to mute the bot, check the /help command for tips.
Are bots safe?
Yes. Bots are not much different from human users you gather in groups. They can see your public name, username, and profile pictures and see the messages you send them. That's it. They cannot access your last seen status and cannot see your phone number (unless you decide to share it with them).
Naturally, any bot should be viewed as an outsider. Do not give them your passwords, Telegram codes or bank account numbers even if they ask nicely. Also, be careful when opening files sent by bots as you would deal with ordinary people. Example: If a bot sent us a file named BeniAc.exe, we probably wouldn't open it.
If I add a bot to my group, can it read my messages?
Bots can work in two modes when you add them to groups. By default, bots only see messages addressed to them. In this case, you'll see 'does not have access to messages' in the group members list next to the bot.
Some bots need more information to work. For this reason, developers can disable the privacy mode. In this case, the bot will see all messages sent to the group and you will see "has access to messages" in the member list next to the bot.
If your group contains very sensitive information, perhaps it is better to avoid adding bots that you do not trust 100%.
Are bots made by Telegram?
No. While we do have some official bots for specific purposes (like @gif or @GDPRbot), we don't usually make bots. Bots are made by third-party developers using the Telegram Bot API and platform.
Where can I find more bots?
There is currently no official store. So you have to ask your friends or search the web for now.
There is no official store at the moment, so you have to ask your friends or search the web. We're sure you'll find some bots to play with.
deeper questions
Can I get Telegram's server-side code?
All Telegram client applications are completely open source. We offer verifiable builds for both iOS and Android. This technology allows you to independently verify that the app you downloaded from the app stores was built using the exact same code we published.
On the contrary, publishing the server code does not guarantee security for neither Secret Chats nor Cloud Chats. This is because unlike client-side code, there is no way to verify that the same code is running on the servers.
As for Secret Chats, you don't need server-side code to check their integrity. The point of end-to-end encryption is that it has to be robust regardless of how servers run.
In a post on his channel, Pavel Durov explained why Telegram did not release the server code, even as an advertising campaign.
The encryption and API used on Telegram's servers are fully documented and open for review by security experts. Any comments are welcome at [email protected].
Can I run Telegram using my own server?
Our current architecture does not yet support splitting and managing separately. Telegram is a unified cloud service. It is therefore unacceptable to create forks where two users can encounter two different Telegram clouds. Getting you to run your own Telegram server while maintaining both speed and security is a task in itself. We cannot decide at this time whether Telegram will move in that direction.
Can I use the Telegram API?
Yes. Developers can use our protocol, API and even source code for all platforms. Check out the getting started section of the documentation.
Don't forget our Bot API that lets you build amazing things on our platform.
Do you have a Privacy Policy?
Of course. Take a look at this.
What does the iOS privacy page mean?
Apple has created privacy pages to inform users about what data apps may collect. However, the information here can be vague and misleading. You can see a detailed description of the Telegram page here.