Telegram is renowned for its security features and has earned its place as one of the best communication apps in the world. With its user-friendly interface and robust encryption methods, it provides a secure environment for communication. However, to fully maximize the security and privacy Telegram offers, there are additional steps and considerations you should keep in mind. 

In this article, we will guide you through essential tips to ensure your chats and personal information remain secure while using Telegram.

Is Telegram Safe?

Telegram is designed with security and privacy at its core, making it one of the safest messaging apps available today. The platform employs end-to-end encryption for its Secret Chats feature, ensuring that only the intended recipients can read the messages. Additionally, Telegram uses a combination of secure encryption protocols to protect regular chats and media files. These measures, along with Telegram’s open-source nature and regular security audits, contribute to its reputation as a highly secure messaging app. With millions of users worldwide, Telegram continues to be a trusted choice for safe and private communication.

Regardless, if you’re having security issues or concerns when using Telegram and want to delete the app and your account entirely, we’ve created an article that might come in handy. Check out our Telegram deletion guide to learn more about this topic.

How to Secure Your Telegram Account

To fully secure your Telegram experience, there are several essential steps you can take. While Telegram is already secure, these additional measures will enhance your privacy and protect your personal information. Let’s explore how to secure your Telegram chats effectively:

Enable Two-Step Verification

Two-step verification prevents unauthorized access to your account. This feature requires you to enter a password in addition to a verification code when logging in on a new device, ensuring that even if someone gains access to your SMS codes, they won’t be able to access your account without the password.

1. Open the Telegram app.
2. Open the menu by clicking on the three lines in the top left..
3. Go to the Settings menu, and then the Privacy and Security submenu.
4. Click on on Two-Step Verification.
5. Set a password and provide a recovery email.

Enabling two-step verification makes it significantly harder for unauthorized users to gain access to your Telegram account, keeping your chats and personal information secure.

Lock the Telegram App with a Password

Losing your device and having someone else find it can be a massive risk for a security breach, especially if you keep sensitive apps and info exposed, unencrypted, and easily accessible on your device. When it comes to Telegram, adding a passcode to access the app can keep your chats secure. To set this up, follow these steps:

1. Open the Telegram app.
2. Click the three lines on the upper left corner.
3. Go to Settings, then Privacy and Security.
4. Click on on Passcode Lock and enable it.
5. Choose and confirm your passcode.

By locking your Telegram app, you add an extra layer of security, making sure your private conversations stay hidden from unwanted eyes.

Send Self-Destructing Media

For those worried about the privacy of their media files, Telegram allows users to send self-destructing media. This means your files will disappear from a chat after a set amount of time has passed, ensuring that they don’t remain accessible indefinitely.

1. Open the Telegram app.
2. Select a contact.
3. Click on the clip on the lower right to start sending media.
4. Choose an image or video.
5. Click on the stopwatch icon beside the caption field of the media and set the timer.
6. Send the media.

Using self-destructing media is a great way to ensure that your sensitive images or videos are not kept longer than necessary, adding another level of privacy to your interactions.

Disable Active Sessions on Other Devices

To ensure that your conversations remain private, it’s important to manage active sessions on devices you no longer use. Disabling active sessions helps you control where your Telegram account is logged in and prevents unauthorized access.

1. Open the Telegram app.
2. Go to the menu by clicking on the three lines on the upper left corner.
3. Go to Settings, then Privacy and Security.
4. Click on Active Sessions.
5. Click on “Terminate All Other Sessions.”

By terminating active sessions on other devices, you can be confident that your messages are only accessible from the devices you currently use.

Use Secret Chats for End-to-End Encryption

Secret Chats offer end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only you and the recipient can read the messages. This feature must be manually enabled, but it provides the highest level of privacy for your conversations.

1. Open the Telegram app.
2. Click on the pencil icon in the lower-right corner.
3. Select “New Secret Chat.”
4. Scroll the list and choose the contact you want to talk to, or use the search function for this purpose.

Using Secret Chats is essential for discussions that require the utmost confidentiality, ensuring that your messages remain between you and the recipient.

Clear Payments and Shipping Information

If you’ve made purchases through Telegram, it’s wise to clear your payment and shipping information periodically. This helps to protect your financial details and ensures that your personal data is not stored longer than necessary.

1. Open the Telegram app.
2. Open the menu by clicking on the three lines button on the upper left.
3. Go to Settings, then Privacy and Security.
4. Click on Clear Payment and Shipping Info.
5. Select the checkboxes and confirm.

Clearing this information periodically helps to minimize the risk of financial data breaches and keeps your personal information secure.

Hide Your IP Address with a Proxy Server

To enhance your privacy, consider using a proxy server. This hides your real IP address, making it harder for anyone to track your online activity or identify your location.

1. Open the Telegram app.
2. Click on the three lines in the upper left.
3. Go to Settings, then Data and Storage.
4. Click on Proxy Settings.
5. Add a proxy server.

Using a proxy server can greatly enhance your online anonymity, providing an additional layer of security when using Telegram.

Secure Your Group Permissions

We’ve all been there: Just chilling at home when suddenly we get a chime on our phones. Believe that it’s just a random person texting you, you unlock your device only to find that you’ve been added to a group chat, which would make it really awkward if it’s a group you aren’t interested in joining in the first place. To avoid being added to unwanted groups, it’s important to adjust your group permissions. This helps you control who can add you to groups and prevents spam or unwanted messages.

1. Open the Telegram app.
2. Open the menu by clicking on the three lines on the upper left.
3. Go to Settings, then Privacy and Security.
4. Click on Invites.
5. Change the setting from “Everybody” to “My Contacts.”

By controlling your group permissions, you can reduce the likelihood of being added to irrelevant or potentially harmful groups.

Automatically Delete Your Account After Inactivity

For long-term privacy, you can set your account to self-destruct after a period of inactivity. This is useful if you anticipate not using Telegram for an extended time and want to ensure your data is automatically deleted.

1. Open the Telegram app.
2. Click the menu button in the upper-left corner.
3. Go to Settings, then Privacy and Security.
4. Click on on “If Away For.”
5. Choose a suitable time period.

Setting your account to self-destruct ensures that your data does not linger on Telegram’s servers if you stop using the app.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your Telegram chats are as secure as possible, giving you peace of mind while you communicate. Telegram already offers robust security, but taking these extra precautions will help you get the most out of its privacy features.