However, if you are still rocking a trusty Mac running OS X 10.11.6 (El Capitan), you may have hit a digital roadblock. You’ve opened the App Store, searched for Telegram, only to find that the modern version requires a newer operating system. This leaves many users asking:
For a user on 10.11.6, the App Store route is effectively closed. But just because the front door is locked doesn't mean there isn't a side entrance. Telegram is unique because it is open-source. This means that while the main development team focuses on the newest hardware, the community and the developers themselves often maintain versions of software for older architectures.
Operating systems receive updates primarily to patch security holes. OS X 10.11.6 has not received a security update in years. Using an outdated OS for communication apps (which handle sensitive personal data) carries a risk. While Telegram encrypts the messages, the underlying OS could theoretically be compromised.