Iranian hacker group knows who is on Telegram

Hackers obtained the mobile phone numbers of 15 million Iranian users of the Telegram encrypted messaging app, and hacked the accounts of more than a dozen of them, security researchers say.

The accounts were hacked through interception of SMS confirmation codes sent to the associated phone numbers, security researchers Claudio Guarnieri and Collin Anderson told Reuters.

The revelations show once again how use of encryption can pit technology companies against governments. Telegram founder Pavel Durov has in the past sided with Apple CEO Tim Cook against the FBI on the question of whether governments should have access to the contents of smartphones.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here