Insights
Notes from the secure communications field
Product updates and company news from the team building Silentel, alongside the broader security research shaping government and defence communications - metadata exposure, cloud jurisdiction risk, post-quantum readiness, and what to actually ask a vendor before signing anything.
When the Surveillance Infrastructure Itself Becomes the Target
security, government, surveillance, telecom
Reporting in early 2026 revealed that the FBI's own wiretap management system, DCSNet, had been breached.
4 min read
Salt Typhoon Isn't a US Problem, It's a Global One
security, government, surveillance, telecom
Through 2025, Salt Typhoon's reach turned out to extend across roughly 80 countries, not just the US carriers where the story began.
3 min read
Silentel 9: Post-Quantum Cryptography, Live in Production
product-update, silentel, encryption, post-quantum-cryptography
Silentel 9 adds post-quantum cryptography as a genuine second layer of protection, alongside real gains in call quality, reliability, and everyday usability.
5 min read
When Encryption Meets Legislation: The EU's Chat Control Debate
security, government, encryption, eu-policy
The EU's long-running push to mandate message scanning keeps resurfacing, and it raises real questions for how encrypted platforms are built.
5 min read
Signalgate: What Happens When a Consumer App Handles Military Planning
security, government, messaging-apps, military-communications
A journalist accidentally added to a US officials' Signal chat exposed the gap between a secure messaging app and an accountable government platform.
3 min read
The Salt Typhoon Breach: When the Wiretap System Gets Wiretapped
security, government, surveillance, telecom
Chinese state hackers spent 2024 inside the same lawful intercept systems US carriers built for government surveillance.
3 min read
When a Platform's Founder Becomes a Legal Liability
security, messaging-apps, government, privacy
Pavel Durov's arrest in France over Telegram's moderation practices raised a question every user of a consumer platform should sit with.
3 min read
Post-Quantum Cryptography Goes Official
security, encryption, post-quantum-cryptography, government
NIST finalized its first three post-quantum cryptography standards in August 2024, ending years of theoretical debate about quantum-safe encryption.
3 min read
Silentel 8.0: Secure Video Conferencing Arrives
product-update, silentel, video-conferencing
Silentel 8.0 brought native secure video conferencing to the platform, alongside a Favourites tab and a redesigned settings experience.
2 min read
When Ransomware Hits Government Through the Back Door: The MOVEit Breach
security, government, ransomware, third-party-risk
A single vulnerability in one widely used file transfer tool swept up dozens of government agencies worldwide in 2023.
3 min read
NATO's Push for Cyber Resilience: What the Vilnius Summit Signaled
nato, government, defence, cyber-resilience
NATO's 2023 Vilnius summit put cyber defence at the centre of the Alliance's posture, with new resilience objectives for member states.
3 min read
When Command and Control Breaks Down: Lessons from the Wagner Mutiny
security, government, defence, military-communications
The June 2023 Wagner mutiny showed what happens to military communications when the chain of command itself can't be trusted.
3 min read
Mobile Networks as a Surveillance Tool During Unrest
security, government, surveillance, mobile-networks
Iran's 2022 protest crackdowns show how fast a government can throttle or monitor mobile communications when it matters most.
3 min read
Silentel 7.8: A New Audio Codec and a Faster App All Around
product-update, silentel, performance
Silentel 7.8 brought a new audio codec for clearer calls, faster contact and message sync, and better URL link handling.
2 min read
How Secure are Proprietary “Secure Phones”?
security, hardware, mobile-security
We look at the current reality of secure phones and assess whether they have a place in this era.
5 min read
Messaging Apps and Information Traps: What Are You Using?
security
Potential risks you take when using a free chat app.
7 min read
Through the Backdoor: How Governments Steal Data
news
The history of cryptography, ciphers and backdoors affects secure communication today. Read more.
5 min read
How The World Keeps Listening In On Russia's Military Communications
security
We will look at the situation in Ukraine. Read more.
6 min read
Clipping Pegasus' Wings: How to Protect Yourself from Cyberattacks
security
We live in a digital age. How to protect yourself from threatening cyber attacks? Read more.
5 min read
How Governments Can Protect Their Sensitive Data with this App
security
Government officials often rely on WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal for sensitive work - here is the risk, and what a verifiably secure alternative looks like.
5 min read
Silentel 7.7: Group Admin Roles Give Teams Real Control
product-update, silentel, group-communication
Silentel 7.7 introduced configurable group admin permissions and a redesigned conference call interface.
3 min read
Silentel 7.6: In-App privileges & Platform privileges
news
We’re happy to inform you that new Silentel 7.6 update with In-App privileges and Platform privileges is here.
1 min read
Silentel 7.5: Your password matters
news
We’re happy to inform you that new Silentel 7.5 update with advanced password policy is already available.
1 min read
Silentel 7.4: Enhanced Push-to-Talk functionalities
news
We’re happy to inform you about new Silentel update with enhanced Push-to-Talk (PTT) functionalities and further users' improvements.
3 min read
Silentel 7.3: Latest update
news
We’re happy to inform you that new Silentel 7.3 update with many functional and security improvements is here.
2 min read
Important information and Silentel offer during COVID-19
news
During COVID-19 Silentel will help you even more by minimizing of personal meetings or physical delivery of documents and other electronic materials.
1 min read
Silentel 7.2: Extreme performance. Extreme security
news
Silentel is now significantly faster when opening and reconnecting. All performance enhancements are in line with highest security standards.
1 min read
Silentel 7.1 - update
news
We update the app regularly so we can make it better for you.
1 min read
Silentel 7 - Secure Group chat and New Design
versions
New design. New apps for Android, iOS and Windows PC. Group chat messaging.
1 min read
Login and unlock Silentel with Face ID on iPhone X
news
New Face ID technology with existing Touch ID provides most comfortable way of authorization to Silentel.
1 min read
Secure Conference
news
Secure conference allows secure real-time voice communication between two and more users with device-to-device encryption.
1 min read
Silentel 6.7 release introducing Secure Conference
versions
Latest Silentel update brings conference feature with unique security and many other functional and security improvements.
1 min read
Researchers prove mass usage of surveillance devices. Gartner calls for using voice and data encryption
security
What is an IMSI-catcher, how much does it cost and how to protect your communication against mobile threats?
2 min read
Hacking mobile phones via SS7 is still up to date. Now even your bank account is vulnerable as well
security
Hackers could bypass SMS two-factor authentication to drain bank accounts.
2 min read
New version Silentel 6.6 is available now
versions
Release notes for the actual Silentel update:
1 min read
WikiLeaks: CIA can hack your phone, PC, and TV
security
WikiLeaks has published a new series of leaks describing how the CIA can eavesdrop on mobile phones, computers and smart TVs.
4 min read
New Silentel brochures
news
Get new Silentel brochures to find out more about benefits of secure communication.
1 min read
Silentel certified in Bulgaria
news
Silentel has passed the certification process and received a certificate from Bulgarian government.
1 min read
Silentel is a partner of the Slovak EU Presidency
news
Top official representatives of the EU Presidency can rely on secure mobile communication provided by Silentel.
1 min read
Silentel 6.5
versions
We are happy to provide you with release notes for coming Silentel update.
1 min read
Aliases for Contacts
news
Aliases allows you to assign arbitrary and anonymous usernames on the Silentel Server, and then rename the Silentel contacts in the client app.
1 min read
Touch ID Login
news
Your fingerprint can be used to log in to Silentel. It’s not necessary to type your password. Just place your fingerprint.
1 min read
OpenSSL Heartbleed Bug? Silentel is 100% secure
security
There’s a lot of news in the past few days about a serious security bug in OpenSSL, commonly known as the “Heartbleed bug”.
1 min read