TechCrunch Industry News Russian zero-day seller is offering up to $4 million for Telegram exploits
Mar 25, 2025
Explore the rarefied world of zero-day exploits, where a Russian entity is offering up to $4 million for vulnerabilities in Telegram. The discussion highlights how the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict shapes the demand for such exploits. It also reveals the skyrocketing prices for vulnerabilities, with WhatsApp zero-days fetchingly priced at $8 million. The podcast dives into the business dynamics of exploiting popular applications, shining a light on the cyber underbelly.
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Russian Zero-Day Market
- Operation Zero, a Russian exploit broker, offers up to $4 million for Telegram exploits.
- This reveals Russian government priorities in the zero-day market.
Zero-Day Value
- Zero-days are vulnerabilities unknown to software makers, making them valuable for hackers.
- Remote Code Execution (RCE) flaws let hackers control systems remotely.
Telegram Security Concerns
- Ukraine banned Telegram for government use due to security concerns.
- Experts warn Telegram isn't as secure as WhatsApp or Signal, lacking default end-to-end encryption.