This next piece explores Ton, Telegram and OSINT analysis.
In previous articles, we looked at Telegram and discussed some of the OSINT strategies that could be applied. We also talked briefly about TON and TON COIN. With both playing a pivotal role in the development of Telegram, including providing many modern Web 3 services, it’s worth exploring TON in more detail and looking at what role it might play in an OSINT investigation.

What is TON

Originally standing for the Telegram Online NEtwork, TON went through a facelift after being associated with some of Telegram’s woes. As such, it’s known now as The Online Network. TON is a blockchain that underpins many telegram services and is able to be used as an in-app currency for tips and purchases.
Fast, and easy to integrate TON is particularly popular with online creators and retailers as it allows them to accept donations and charge for their work quickly and easily. It also provides a Web3-based domain name system for users, allowing for the reception of TON directly into a compatible wallet via a username, rather than a long and complex wallet number.
Developers can also integrate TON with a wide range of apps, allowing for custom workflows and interfaces to be designed. While this is convenient, it’s also part of the reason why Telegram has such a problem with scammers and bad actors. It gives them a customisable and easily configurable environment for them to work with.
As we can see from the enclosed screencap, TON provides a large array of services, along with developer tools and educational materials.
Interestingly enough, despite being around for nearly six years, there are still plenty of people who aren’t even aware that it exists.
If you’re interested in the development history, the roadmap gives a good outline of key events and figures. Savvy users would have noticed the input of Pavel Durov, Telegram’s founder who got a mention in our earlier article.

Blockchain Research

With TON being a fully tradable cryptocurrency, users are able to interact with it on centralised and decentralised exchanges. It’s also compatible with other typical Web 3 elements meaning that if your investigation entails following the money, then you might have your work cut out for you.
Despite some of the challenges though, TON is like any other blockchain in that there are tools to help identify wallets and transactions of interest. And with TON having domain name integration, you’ll often find plenty of information to get you started once you begin looking.
Tonscan is the best place to start for things like this. Similar to the Solana-powered SOLscan, Tonscan allows for the tracking of wallets, transactions and even block numbers. This means that while sometimes you might not be able to identify a wallet owner, you can still track any transactions that the wallet might make.
Tonscan is a far more useful tool than most give it credit for though. On the homepage, you can also stake TON, see updates from the development team and even see the top ten wallet holders with little more than a glance at your screen. It’s a super powerful tool for exploring TON transactions and you should spend some time getting comfortable with it if you intend to add it to your workflow.

Bots & More

If you’re into Web3 or coding in general then you’re probably no stranger to using technology to make life easier or keep yourself informed. And despite its issues, if that’s your area of interest then you’ll find plenty to keep you occupied. Not only are there integrations with existing bots but creating your own is pretty easy all things considered.
More than a few people have leveraged this for their own means and while we’ll explore Bots in more detail later in the series, for now, it is worth mentioning the role they play with crypto and TON in general.
Web3 is about speed, convenience and integration and because of this, you’ll find a wide variety of bots to help you fulfil your goals, whatever they may be. This means that while there's a bot for identifying links to accounts and other OSINT-based user patterns or details, there are also bots that specifically focus on the use, purchasing and selling of various cryptocurrencies.
While a lot of this activity is above board and of no concern, there is still a significant amount of wallet drainers and malware that target Telegram users. So, applying good security practices if you decide to involve yourself in things like this is usually pretty prudent while also helping to protect you in the long run.

In Closing

While Telegram is less popular in the West than it is in places like Russia, it’s important to realise that while we may not see value in it, plenty of others do.
So, because of this some people often overlook telegram in terms of its intelligence value or utility and the reality is that it has much to offer cyber investigators who are looking to upskill or existing investigators who might find Russia or Central Europe in their sights. Even places like Australia now find themselves with increasingly large numbers of Telegram users.
When you pair this with the wide range of services that TON can offer in partnership with Telegram it doesn’t take much to realise that while it has plenty to offer the intelligence community, it’s also ripe for active measures as well.
Just like the Russian-based Social Media platform, VK offers an entirely different snapshot of the world in comparison to places like Facebook or Instagram, stepping into some corners of Telegram can be like stepping into a new world as well. And not always a good one either.
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