SafetyDetectives cybersecurity experts discovered a dark internet marketplace offering consumers access to Telegram’s internal servers for $20,000.
According to the seller, the purchase price does not include any negotiation and provides uninterrupted access to by employees of the company.
It indicates that the vendor and an insider of the company have some arrangement regarding accessing its servers. This offer is made to all customers around the globe by the vendor.
Telegram is a popular app that allows instant messaging and voice calling. Telegram was created by Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov to enable encrypted video and voice chat. Telegram is used by over 700 million people each month.
The Dark Web Store Buying Data
SafetyDetectives claims that the clear or surface web is inaccessible to market access.
You can get counterfeit electronic goods, cash, drugs, illicit software, stolen databases and cracking tools as well as counterfeit weapons.
SafetyDetectives research also suggests that buyers have the option of purchasing “buyer’s protection”, which allows them to hold money in escrow.
The seller posted the advertisement on November 16, 2022 and it is still active. They offer access to Telegram for approximately six months. This is the advertisement:
Accessing Telegram Servers. My employees have access to Telegram servers. You can contact me for any additional information!
Expensive!
$20,000!
If you cannot pay the bill, don’t write!
Telegram hacking is impossible! Servers store all information!
Timing: 2-4 Days
The seller also stated that the listing isn’t related to account theft or channel channels, so remote access is impossible.
The vendor will only provide an archive of correspondence for 6 months, with the exception of active customers’ registered phone numbers or IP addresses.
Researchers say it’s difficult to tell if the sales pitch is genuine. The dark web is full of frauds and scams.
These assertions could be true if someone has access to the internal systems and can steal user data. It could also damage Telegram’s reputation for being a secure chat platform.
A potential privacy breach in this way would also harm the USP of the company (i.e. concluded that Telegram is a trusted messaging service.
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