Are you a Telegram user who values privacy and security? With millions of users worldwide, Telegram is an attractive target for hackers looking to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access to accounts.
But don’t worry – we’ve got your back. In this Cryptopolitan guide, we’ll dive into various steps you can take to protect your Telegram account from potential hacks, such as avoiding public WiFi, being extra careful with downloads, and identifying impersonators.
Why do hackers target Telegram so often?
Telegram is a popular communication and messaging app for crypto communities. Hence, crypto hackers often target users on Telegram. Users who lack sufficient knowledge about online safety and security are particularly at risk.
Many Cryptocurrency scammers on Telegram are now using malicious bots to scam investors. The scammers trick users into giving away their OTP codes, which they then use to lock the original user out of their account and demand ransom in cryptocurrencies. These are classic examples of phishing attacks.
A TechRadar report stated that hackers are spreading malware on the app, which can steal the cryptocurrency of users. The malware works by scanning the clipboard for a cryptocurrency wallet address and replacing it with the hacker’s address. Therefore, if a victim tries to send cryptocurrency to an address, the funds will be sent to the attacker instead.
It can be easy to identify such a scam by checking if the address pasted before sending is different from the one copied previously. However, attackers rely on people not double-checking the addresses because wallet addresses are a long string of random characters. This is just a theoretical scenario. This hypothesis also appears to be valid. From November 2018 onwards, over $560,000 in cryptocurrencies has been transferred to over 100 addresses linked to the attackers.
Methods to avoid Telegram hacks
SIM swap attacks are a frequently used method by which attackers take control of your phone number on Telegram. Hackers direct a lot of their malicious firepower to Telegram because it hosts a large number of cryptocurrency communities and users.
If you are a Telegram user, it is important to safeguard yourself against some common Telegram hacks. You can do this by following some simple security practices that we have listed in this article.
Set up 2FA authentication
For added security, set up two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access to your account. Telegram’s primary login method is a one-time code sent by text. To add a second layer of protection, you can set up a password. This will prevent anyone who may have SIM swapped your number from accessing your account without the password.
To enable Two-Step Verification on Telegram, go to the Privacy and Security tab and select it. Then create a strong password which you should store in a secure location, such as a password manager since you won’t need to use it very often.
If you forget your password, you’ll need to reset your account. This involves requesting the complete removal of your account. You’ll have to wait for seven days before the account is deleted, along with all related contacts, cloud chats, and channel subscriptions. Only after the account is deleted can you create a new one using the same phone number, but it will be empty.
Avoid sharing unnecessary information
In order to avoid sharing unnecessary information with all Telegram users, it is recommended that you adjust your profile privacy settings accordingly. You can do this by going to Telegram’s Privacy settings and selecting the appropriate options.
- Phone Number > Who can see my phone number > Nobody.
- Last Seen & Online > Who can see my last seen time > Nobody.
- Profile photos > Who can see my profile photos > My Contacts.
- Calls > Who can call me > My Contacts (or Nobody, if you prefer).
- Calls > Use Peer-to-peer > My contacts (or Nobody)
- Forwarded Messages > Who can add a link to my account when forwarding my messages > My Contacts.
- Groups & Channels > Who can add me to groups and channels > My Contacts.
Terminate unrecognized active sessions
To avoid potential misuse of your Telegram account, it’s important to be aware of all devices where you are currently logged in. Fortunately, Telegram offers multi-device support, allowing you to be logged in to the same account on multiple devices simultaneously. To see where your account is currently active, simply go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, and finally Active Sessions.
Turn off P2P calls for all
By default, Telegram uses peer-to-peer (P2P) technology for voice calls. When using P2P, the app’s control log will display the IP address of the call object’s user. However, not all versions of the app have control logs; for example, the Windows version does not, while the Linux version does.
In the Telegram application, users can prevent their IP addresses from being compromised by changing settings.
To do so, go to Settings and select Privacy and Security > Calls > Use Peer to Peer With > Nobody.
Keep in mind that when this setting is enabled, the user will have to make voice calls through the Telegram server, which may result in decreased audio quality.
Don’t use public WiFi
Using public WiFi networks can expose your Telegram account to potential hacks, as these networks can be unsecured and hackers can exploit them easily. When you connect to an unsecured public WiFi network, hackers can intercept your data, monitor your online activities, or even gain access to your Telegram account.
To avoid these risks, follow these guidelines:
- Use a VPN: A VPN makes it hard for hackers to intercept and decode your data by encrypting your internet connection. Using a reliable VPN service can significantly improve your online security when connected to public WiFi networks.
- Avoid accessing Telegram on public WiFi: Whenever possible, wait until you’re connected to a secure, private network before using Telegram. This greatly reduces the chances of your account being compromised.
- Use mobile data: If you need to access Telegram while away from home, consider using your mobile data instead of connecting to public WiFi networks.
Avoid downloading malicious files on your device
Hackers often use malicious files to gain unauthorized access to users’ devices and accounts. These files can be disguised as legitimate documents, images, or audio files and may be sent to you via Telegram messages or shared in groups. To protect your Telegram account from potential hacks, be cautious about downloading files:
- Only download files from trusted sources: Be cautious about downloading files from unknown or unverified contacts. If you’re unsure about a file’s legitimacy, ask the sender for more information or verify its authenticity through other means.
- Use antivirus software: Install reliable antivirus software on your device and ensure it’s regularly updated. This can help detect and remove malicious files before they can cause any damage.
- Keep your operating system and apps up-to-date: To enhance the security of your device and prevent hackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities, make sure to frequently update both the operating system and apps with the latest security patches and features..
Be Careful of Imposters
Impersonation is a common tactic used by hackers to trick users into divulging sensitive information or granting them access to their accounts. In the context of Telegram, impersonators may create fake accounts that resemble those of your friends, family, or colleagues in an attempt to deceive you.
To protect yourself from impersonators, follow these tips:
- Verify contacts before engaging with them: Before sharing sensitive information or downloading files from a contact, make sure they are who they claim to be. You can do this by asking them to confirm their identity through a different communication channel, such as a phone call or another messaging platform.
- Be cautious with new contacts: If you receive a message from a new contact claiming to be someone you know, be cautious and verify their identity before engaging with them.
- Report suspicious accounts: If you encounter an account that you suspect is impersonating someone you know, report it to Telegram’s support team. This can help the platform take appropriate action against the impersonator and protect other users from potential scams.
Recognizing Phishing Attempts
Hackers often use phishing as a tactic to deceive users into revealing sensitive information, including personal data and login details. Phishing attempts may come in the form of emails, text messages, or even Telegram messages that appear to be from legitimate sources. To protect your Telegram account from phishing attacks, keep the following tips in mind:
- Be cautious about clicking on links: Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages, especially if they appear to be from unknown sources. Be cautious of clicking on these links as they will direct you to fraudulent websites that aim to steal your personal information and login details..
- Verify the sender’s identity: If you receive a message from someone claiming to be a Telegram representative or another trusted source, verify their identity before providing any information or clicking on any links.
Is Telegram safe by default?
No, telegram may not be safe by default. Please be aware that Telegram’s default private and group chats are not end-to-end encrypted, only secret chats are. Therefore, it is possible for Telegram’s staff and third parties to access your conversations and information on their servers.
To ensure complete privacy, you can opt for Telegram’s secret chat feature. This encrypts all your data, be it text, media, or files, with an additional layer of client-client encryption. After that, any media or files you send and receive through Telegram cannot be intercepted or decoded by your internet service provider, network administrators, or other third parties.
Secret chats on Telegram can only be accessed on the device where the chat occurred because they are not stored on the Telegram cloud. So, Telegram is not fully safe by default but you can make it safe by turning on secret chats.
Is Discord a Better Alternative for Crypto Communities?
Although Telegram’s user interface is designed to be simple and streamlined, it is missing some features that could address the main issues affecting communication in the cryptocurrency industry. Without the ability to rate comments or posts by quality, valuable information is often drowned out by trolls. Moreover, groups can become inundated with spam, scammers, phishing attempts, and malicious bots.
On the other hand, Discord is a voice and chat app designed for gamers, but it is also suitable for cryptocurrency. Both gaming and cryptocurrency communities require real-time communication with clear interactivity and a user-friendly interface, which Discord provides.
Discord offers more options for tech-savvy users to manage communication compared to Telegram. You have the ability to assign community roles, customize the user interface, and create a gamified channel where members can earn a higher rank by contributing valuable content. This, in turn, allows them to access more exclusive channels.
The platform includes features that track and evaluate helpful answers. Apps and bots can analyze and manage comments. One such bot, pBot, utilizes Google Perspective to eliminate common scams and expedite moderation.
Discord also has the most praiseworthy user interface, since it has amazing aesthetics, interactive tools, and plenty of options for customization.
Conclusion
Protecting your Telegram account from hacks is crucial in today’s digital landscape, where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated and persistent. Taking a proactive approach to secure your account ensures that your private conversations and data remain confidential, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of Telegram’s privacy-centric platform with peace of mind.
