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The comments here are showing me that this contest is a good idea, because everyone is talking about Telegram. It doesn't matter that they're mostly saying they don't trust it. Without the contest, most people wouldn't even have heard of this app in the first place.



It's worth noting that the contest caused people here to talk about how Telegram's model of security and their approach to testing that security have flaws.

But as is shown by the fact that they are running this contest, plenty of people who are not here see the contest and believe it is an indication of the trust they should have in Telegram. Otherwise, they wouldn't have run another contest after the response on HN to the last one.

The contest is a bad idea because for the people who don't see our discussion here, they will be tempted to trust their sensitive data to Telegram. For lots of people around the world, that trust could put them at risk of serious harm.


I should have said "good idea for Telegram". I can see why the contest, and Telegram's general approach, is a bad idea for everyone as a whole, but IMO this is the best advertising $300,000 can buy.




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