Summary: Telegram is both a secure messaging app and a hub for cybercriminals. Learn why monitoring Telegram helps protect your business from data leaks and cyber threats.
Telegram is one of the most popular secure messaging apps worldwide, with over 1 billion users. However, while the service helps individuals access secure communication channels, Telegram presents business risks that companies need to understand.
This article will introduce Telegram-linked cyber risks, explore the key benefits of Telegram monitoring, and suggest some best practices to secure your network.
Telegram's encryption features and anonymity make the platform an ideal meeting place and organizational hub for threat actors.
Criminal collectives and opportunist data thieves use Telegram channels to sell stolen information. Financial data, personal details, and sensitive corporate documents all find buyers on its channels. Buyers then use stolen data to breach network defenses, launch data breach attacks, blackmail targets, or plan whaling attacks against high-profile targets.
Telegram tracking is even more important if companies rely on the platform for legitimate business tasks. For instance, Telegram channels host AI bots, provide marketing content to followers, or facilitate cross-team collaboration. Marketers search social media platforms like Telegram for brand mentions, while mini-apps allow direct sales to Telegram users.
In this context, Telegram monitoring strategies allow companies to mitigate security risks and keep data safe while using the platform for legitimate purposes.
Telegram represents a serious risk to any company that collects, uses, or stores confidential data. One of the main reasons for this is that Telegram might be used as a secure forum to manage and plan external and internal cyber-attacks.
On the external side, groups of cybercriminals use Telegram to discuss operations and coordinate their activities. Criminals can purchase phishing-as-a-service kits and share data to refine phishing emails. Attackers also use Telegram's bot API to host command-and-control (C&C) centers. These centers control malware agents remotely, allowing data extraction without exposing attackers' identities.
Telegram is also a base for many types of scammers. For example, Telegram scams promise big returns from crypto-investments, send messages disguised as trusted organizations, and offer fake jobs requiring up-front payments.
At the same time, Telegram is a safe space for disaffected employees to contact brokers and sell sensitive files or intellectual property. Thanks to encryption and data self-destruction, insider threat actors can provide intelligence about network vulnerabilities (or even login credentials) without fear of detection.
Moreover, Telegram overlaps with dark web marketplaces and discussion forums. Brokers can source and sell data globally to attackers who then use Telegram to plan their campaigns. Telegram is also simpler for many criminals, providing a streamlined location for sales and operations.
The key takeaway is this: Organizations now need dark web and Telegram monitoring solutions to capture early stages in the attack lifecycle.
Telegram monitoring is a cybersecurity essential. However, monitoring is not easy as the messaging app is built around privacy and secrecy.
Until his 2024 arrest, Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, rarely collaborated with law enforcement and strongly prioritized confidentiality over cybercrime prevention. There have been some indications of change since then, but the platform remains tightly encrypted and safe for most forms of online criminals.
On the one hand, monitoring Telegram is legally complex. Telegram operates data centers in multiple jurisdictions. Investigators must make many access requests to track discussions or data flows. The app also claims that it has no obligation to share IP address data with criminal investigators.
These legal issues are coupled with intimidating technical barriers. Telegram protects Secret Chats via end-to-end encryption and makes chats "disappear" immediately. Together, encryption and message deletion make life harder for security analysts.
Most Telegram activity is legitimate (and secrecy is often a positive thing), but this means security analysts must filter out harmless chatter and noise to focus on illicit activity. When hundreds of millions of users are active, that's an imposing challenge.
Fortunately, companies can simplify the challenge by deploying Telegram monitoring tools. With the right tools and techniques, it's possible to monitor critical data.
Open source intelligence (OSINT) is a good starting point for investigating Telegram accounts and channels, but it is not the whole story.
Tools like X-Ray Contact or Bellingcat's Telegram phone number checker determine whether phone numbers are linked to Telegram users. That helps companies analyze phone calls and identify potential phishing attempts. Other tools trace user participation in open groups or extract phone numbers from Telegram IDs.
Unfortunately, OSINT has limited effectiveness. Using many scrapers and scripts is time-consuming for security professionals. Open source tools also struggle to analyze channels for patterns of malicious chatter or behavior. OSINT tools are limited to public channels. They cannot penetrate Telegram's end-to-end encrypted private chats.
More powerful techniques enable security teams to save time and achieve better outcomes.
For instance, using a cyber threat intelligence platform like NordStellar helps organizations proactively discover threats that are targeting them.
NordStellar’s Dark web monitoring scans over 25,000 channels for leaks related to your company. Sources include Telegram hacking channels, dark web forums, and blogs by ransomware groups. Users can also track criminal discussions and specific company mentions, providing real-time alerts to respond to data exposure
Another option is using active ops to infiltrate Telegram channels. Threat hunters can participate in discussions and gain intelligence about data exposure or imminent attacks.
However, beware when engaging with threat actors on Telegram. Active intel is a difficult task, and exposure can lead to retaliation. Other methods are advisable if possible.
Now, criminals could be using Telegram to trade your data and plot attacks. It's time to implement a comprehensive Telegram monitoring strategy. The guidelines below will cut security risks while enabling employees to take advantage of Telegram's privacy features.
Blanket bans are probably counterproductive, but companies should avoid unregulated use of Telegram channels by employees on work devices.
Ensure employees use encrypted channels for sensitive discussions. Prohibit file sharing via Telegram without authorization. Ensure employees use approved clients and update clients regularly.
Note: You need to balance data security controls with user privacy. Security teams cannot monitor every word sent by employees or their contacts, only data sent during work hours on work devices.
Focus Telegram monitoring on accounts with access to valuable data and extensive administrative privileges.
Executive and managerial accounts represent elevated insider threat risks and are also primary targets for whaling attacks. Phishers often use Telegram to extract data. Security teams can detect transfers early by monitoring Telegram usage on executive accounts.
Other account types targeted by threat actors include R&D teams (for intellectual property) and IT staff (to access network resources). Add all of these users to the Telegram monitoring options. If their credentials leak onto Telegram forums, you can take immediate action to switch credentials and block attackers.
Monitoring Telegram should be an automated and continuous process, not limited to quarterly or annual security audits.
Automated threat intelligence collection allows security teams to detect data leaks early and apply immediate mitigation actions. Continuously monitoring the Telegram app can also strengthen data protection efforts, though compliance with HIPAA or PCI-DSS requires broader safeguards. Continuous Telegram monitoring also complements periodic audits by providing real-time visibility into potential breaches.
Threat actors use Telegram to trade stolen data and plan attacks. NordStellar's platform provides real-time visibility by scanning thousands of Telegram channels, dark web forums, and ransomware blogs for threats targeting your organization. Act before a breach occurs. Contact the NordStellar team to see how our solutions can protect your business.
Joanna Krysińska
Senior Copywriter
A writer, tech enthusiast, dog walker, and amateur pastry chef, Joanna grew up in a family of engineers and mathematicians, so a techy mind is in her genes. She loves making complex tech topics less complex and digestible. She also has a keen interest in the mechanics of cybercrime.
