India, Dec. 16 -- Telegram's newest update focuses on fundamentals. By replacing SMS logins with passkeys, adding built-in protection for digital gift purchases, and streamlining how users add music to Stories, the platform is addressing everyday risks faced by millions of users without adding friction.

The standout feature in Telegram's latest platform update is support for passkeys, a modern authentication method designed to replace traditional SMS-based one-time passwords.

SMS verification has long been a weak point in account security. It is vulnerable to phishing attacks, SIM swap fraud, and network failures, especially when users travel or change carriers. Passkeys remove these risks by relying on device-level authentication, such...