Is Data from Telegram’s Web Client Handled Differently Than the Mobile App?

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Telegram is renowned for its focus on privacy and security, offering multiple platforms including mobile apps (iOS and Android), desktop clients, and a web client accessible via browsers. A common question among users is whether the data handled through Telegram’s web client differs from that managed by its mobile app, particularly regarding security, data storage, and encryption. Understanding these differences is key to appreciating how Telegram balances usability with its privacy commitments.

At its core, Telegram’s mobile apps (for iOS and Android) and telegram data its web client both enable users to access the same cloud-based messaging service, but there are important technical differences in how data is processed and secured.

Data Handling and Encryption Differences
Telegram’s mobile apps use a combination of cloud chats and secret chats. Cloud chats are stored encrypted on Telegram’s servers, allowing synchronization across devices, while secret chats use end-to-end encryption (E2EE), ensuring that only the communicating users can read the messages — not even Telegram itself.

The mobile apps fully support secret chats and use E2EE for these private conversations. They also encrypt cloud chats using server-client encryption, which secures data on Telegram’s servers but allows synchronization.

By contrast, Telegram’s web client has limitations with encryption. The web client operates through browsers and thus cannot offer the same level of encryption for secret chats due to browser restrictions and security model differences. For example:

The official Telegram Web Client supports cloud chats but does not support secret chats. This means messages sent or received via the web client are stored on Telegram’s servers with server-client encryption but lack end-to-end encryption.

The web client encrypts messages during transmission using HTTPS but cannot fully implement the client-side encryption protocols used by the mobile apps.

Implications for Data Security
Because secret chats are unavailable on the web client, users accessing Telegram via browsers do not benefit from the highest level of message confidentiality. Their messages can be decrypted by Telegram’s servers for synchronization purposes. In contrast, on mobile apps, secret chat messages are encrypted end-to-end and never leave the user’s devices in decrypted form.

Additionally, the web client relies heavily on the security of the browser and the device it runs on. Unlike mobile apps, which are sandboxed and hardened against many attacks, web clients may be more vulnerable to browser-based threats like cross-site scripting or session hijacking. Telegram mitigates some of these risks with secure authentication methods, including two-step verification and session management.

Data Storage and Synchronization
Both mobile and web clients synchronize user data with Telegram’s cloud infrastructure. This means messages, media, and contacts (in cloud chats) are accessible across devices. However, because the web client cannot store secret chats, users relying primarily on the web client must accept some trade-offs in privacy.

User Recommendations
For users prioritizing privacy, especially the confidentiality of sensitive conversations, using the mobile app or desktop clients that support secret chats is advisable. The web client is excellent for convenience and accessibility from any device without installing software, but it comes with reduced encryption features.

Conclusion
In summary, Telegram’s web client handles data differently than its mobile apps, primarily due to encryption limitations. While both platforms secure data in transit and use Telegram’s cloud infrastructure for synchronization, the mobile apps offer end-to-end encryption for secret chats, which the web client currently lacks. Users should weigh the convenience of web access against the privacy benefits of Telegram’s dedicated apps, especially when handling sensitive information.