Urgent: Ukraine Halts Telegram on Government Devices to Combat Russian Espionage Threat | World News
Ukraine Bans Telegram for Government and Military Devices Amid Ongoing War with Russia
Ukraine has prohibited the use of the popular Telegram messaging app on state-issued devices for government officials, military personnel, and workers in defense and critical infrastructure sectors, citing national security concerns during its ongoing conflict with Russia.
The National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre of Ukraine announced the ban, emphasizing that the directive applies to official devices used by government employees, military members, security and defense workers, and key infrastructure employees. This decision, announced by Ukraine’s Security and Defence Council via Facebook, aims to mitigate security risks associated with the app.
According to Ukraine’s Security Service and the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Telegram is exploited by Russia for cyber activities including cyberattacks, phishing, malware dissemination, user location tracking, and calibrating missile strikes. Despite the ban, an exception exists for those who must use the app for official duties.
While the broader Ukrainian population can continue using Telegram on personal devices, the app is extensively used in the country not only for communication but also for receiving news, including updates on Russian air assaults. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials are expected to maintain their use of Telegram for public communications, given its importance in their roles.
Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov highlighted concerns over Russian intelligence’s ability to access personal and deleted messages as well as user data. Budanov stressed that the ban is a national security measure rather than a limitation on free speech.
The Security and Defence Council considers Telegram to pose considerable risks that warrant this preemptive measure during a critical time in Ukraine’s defense efforts. Published on September 20, 2024, this move underscores Ukraine’s broader strategy to safeguard state security amidst the ongoing war with Russia.
Original Story https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/ukraine-bans-telegram-app-on-state-issued-devices-due-to-russian-threat-124092001066_1.html
Category :
Tags:
