Session vs. Telegram: Redefining Secure Messaging in the Digital Age

The need for secure messaging has become more prevalent than ever, especially with rising instances of popular apps — such as Whatsapp, Line, and Viber — being hacked or compromised. To elaborate, late last year, a data breach saw more than 440k records associated with the Japanese messaging app Line leaked online.

Similarly, earlier this year, the popular Asian messaging service Viber was the target of a third-party hack that allegedly gained access to a whopping 740 GB of data stored on the platform’s servers. Even Telegram, a platform renowned for its outlook toward individual security, was recently exposed as having a critical flaw allowing hackers to send malware files via its chat function.

Amid these alarming developments, consumers worldwide have continued to seek out messaging services that emphasize individual security and privacy. In this context, even though Telegram has gained considerable notoriety in recent years, it continues to fall short in certain key areas.

Leveling the playing field

Enter Session, a decentralized messenger that prioritizes online privacy using a unique non-local approach. It has been devised atop a blockchain infrastructure and unlike Telegram, doesn’t require a phone number or email address to create an account. In fact, users can generate a cryptographically secure ‘Session ID’ whenever they message someone, ensuring complete anonymity.

While Telegram only offers end-to-end encryption as part of its “secret chats” module, Session encrypts all of its messages by default. This means that every conversation, not just those designated as ‘secret’ by the user, is protected from prying eyes.

Furthermore, Session uses a concept called ‘onion routing’ — similar to the security framework used by the Tor browser — to obscure user IP addresses, thus providing clients with a highly important additional layer of privacy that Telegram lacks.

To elaborate, onion networks obfuscate messages using several encryption layers and send them through different nodes. Each node ‘unwraps’ (decrypts) a layer of encryption, ensuring that no single node ever knows both the destination and origin of the message. In other words, the server that receives a message never knows the sender’s IP address.

Also, unlike Telegram’s closed-source MTProto protocol, Session’s digital infrastructure is open-source based, allowing for independent security audits. Additionally, users on Session are identified by public keys, making man-in-the-middle attacks virtually impossible.

Lastly, while Telegram offers self-destructing messages as part of its aforementioned ‘secret chats’ module, Session does the same as part of all its conversations.

User-friendliness with a big dash of privacy

Despite its advanced security features, Session’s interface never comes across as overtly technical, maintaining a user-friendly interface where clients can easily connect by sharing their Session IDs — with the app supporting both small group chats and larger communities.

Not only that, the platform also offers secure, decentralized voice calls within the app, combining convenience with privacy. In addition to this, Session’s multi-device support allows users to link multiple devices to their Session IDs for seamless access across platforms. It also supports secure file sharing, enabling users to send files and media to their contacts without compromising on privacy.

Session’s commitment to privacy and security has made it a valuable tool for users in high-stakes situations. During the 2022-23 Iranian protests, activists heavily relied on Session to communicate securely, demonstrating its real-world impact in protecting vulnerable users.

So, is Session better than Telegram?

While Telegram has undoubtedly gained an insane level of popularity in recent years, with its client base standing at approx. 950 million users, it still falls short of providing the level of privacy and security (at least in some areas) that many individuals require in today’s digital landscape

In that sense, Session has emerged as a superior alternative, offering a truly anonymous, decentralized, and secure messaging experience. With its combination of advanced privacy features, robust security measures, and a user-friendly interface, Session is setting new standards for secure communication.

Whether one’s an activist, a privacy-conscious individual, or someone who simply values the sanctity of their personal data, Session features many tools that can help make global digital communication more secure. Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how this space continues to evolve and grow.