WhatsApp competitor Telegram adds two-step authentication

Messaging service Telegram has added two-step authentication to its software. Until now, the WhatsApp competitor only authenticated users with a code by SMS, but in addition to that, users can set a password.

The two-step authentication is not mandatory, as users can choose to log in on a new device with just a text message. The option is from version 0.8.3 in the Telegram apps for various platforms, the messaging service reports.

Telegram also introduces a session manager with the new version, with which users can see which devices they are logged in on. In addition, it is possible in the session manager to remotely log out of certain devices.

With the new version, Telegram also has ‘link previews’ in conversations, so that users can see in advance what they are about to click on. It is unknown exactly how many users Telegram has. It was in vogue shortly after Facebook announced it was buying WhatsApp, but how many active users there are currently is unknown.