# Help a newbie with the Telegram app **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 22, 2022, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-newbie-with-the-telegram-app/966621 "2022-06-22T12:18:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2022, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-newbie-with-the-telegram-app/966621/1 "2022-06-22T12:18:31Z")
I try to avoid unnecessary junk and apps on my computer, as most are merely distractions and annoying, not to mention increase the items I have to monitor for security purposes. But recently a web site op who I trust posted a message, “I have a package for you…” followed by a reference to Telegram (“Telegram me…@{his user name}”. I think he wants to communicate more directly than swapping public messages on his web page. I am ignorant about Telegram. Can someone take me to square one so I can get in touch with this party without compromising my computer or complicating my life? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2022, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-newbie-with-the-telegram-app/966621/2 "2022-06-22T13:33:39Z")
Telegram is primarily a phone App. There is a client for Windows but the native platform is iOS. The Android App came out a few months later. You create a registered account with your phone number. Messages in Telegram can be encrypted. It’s more secure than SMS Texting. I like Telegram because its easier to send family photos and video. Wikipedia says there’s currently 500 million monthly active users. It seems reliable and safe. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-newbie-with-the-telegram-app/966621/3 "2022-06-23T00:22:15Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It seems reliable and safe. Someone saying “I have a package for you”, not so much… (online, yet) I’d ask what the package is before I download an app and go through who knows what else. Even if it were my best friend. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-newbie-with-the-telegram-app/966621/4 "2022-06-23T01:27:18Z")
Any attachments need to be carefully scanned with antivirus. Look at the file extensions. I don’t know if Telegram scans for malware. I only use it to exchange family photos. I haven’t researched it. Anything from strangers gets deleted. Jenn’s party photos never gets opened. I get that garbage on SMS. I delete without opening the message. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-newbie-with-the-telegram-app/966621/5 "2022-06-23T15:17:30Z")
Hey, keep us posted as to what you did, and what [soundtrack swells ominously] “The Package” is. > [@Musicat](#): > > I try to avoid unnecessary junk and apps on my computer, as most are merely distractions and annoying, not to mention increase the items I have to monitor for security purposes. But recently a web site op who I trust posted a message, “I have a package for you…” AT THE VERY LEAST, contact that OP and ask what they want to send you… AND IF THAT MESSAGE WAS ACTUALLY SENT BY THEM. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2022, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-newbie-with-the-telegram-app/966621/6 "2022-06-26T09:10:20Z")
Here’s the final analysis. I was having trouble installing Telegram, but that may have been a good thing. In the immortal words of (Dr.) Johnny Fever, “If everyone is out to get you, being paranoid is Just Good Thinking.” The web site owner posted a new video, and appended a warning at the end telling viewers that his fans have been seeing comments on his site telling them that they had won a contest and to call a phone number to get their prize. Most were suspicious enough to email him about it, and he confirmed such a message was not posted by him. His only defense has been to delete any such comments when detected. Since I rarely have occasion to cold email a YT site admin, I was not aware that obtaining the site’s direct email was that easy, but after poking around a bit, found out it was readily available after passing a CAPTCHA. So I found the email addy and sent a message. He just replied and verified that my “got a package 4 U” message was of the same ilk as the “you won a contest” scam. Further investigation makes me think that the original comment was not an official posting by the site’s OP, but only a comment formatted to spoof one, just like a scammy email made to look like a Bank of America warning, complete with official bank logo. So I don’t think his site was hacked. We learn something new every day, eh?