KPN Security concludes following an investigation that Telegram has been increasingly misused as a platform for criminal activities since the outbreak of the corona crisis. According to the KPN part, the accessible nature of Telegram is one of the reasons for this.
KPN Security indicates that with the click of a button there is access to very shocking and traumatic footage. This material can be easily downloaded to a phone and lead to criminal consequences. For example, there is a diversity of moral content on Telegram. KPN Security warns: “As a result, the popular chat service threatens to become a kind of low-threshold alternative to the dark web.”
For the investigation, KPN Security monitored 106 channels for 90 days. A disturbing amount of publicly accessible illegal content and activities was offered there, KPN employees said. These groups are easily accessible and found content that was previously only available through the dark web.
In addition, KPN Security also notices a new form of extortion that is on the rise: dating sextortion. In this form of extortion, criminals make sex agreements with their victims, which are then filmed without their knowledge. The photos and videos will be shared on Telegram afterward.
Causes
KPN Security gives the following reasons for the strong growth of such activities on Telegram:
- The accessible nature of Telegram
- In addition to having one-on-one conversations, users can easily organize themselves into groups and share content there. Many of those groups have no access control.
- In addition, Telegram users can easily hide their identities. For an account, only downloading the app and entering a phone number is enough, which makes it difficult for cybercriminals to trace.
Warning
Cybercriminals easily abuse the chat service and commit and are therefore punishable. This also applies to the prying eyes of users, according to KPN Security: Being exposed to easily accessible sexual content can not only cause trauma but is also punishable by law. Telegram automatically downloads the content of a group on the user’s device. As a result, the user has punishable content on his device, which can have consequences such as fines and prison sentences.
The investigation has now been handed over to the responsible authorities at home and abroad. Victims are advised to always report the crime. It is a serious criminal offense and enables the police to conduct effective investigations thanks to as much information as possible. Every report can contain crucial information that can ultimately lead to the perpetrators.
KPN Security
KPN Security is KPN’s brand name for all business services in the field of digital security. KPN Security uses ethical hackers, who are authorized to investigate security systems and networks in order to detect security holes in the systems and networks. These security vulnerabilities are reported to companies and agencies they work with.
