Lock it down, folks! If you’re using Telegram to chat with your buddies, it’s time to level up your privacy game. Here are eight essential settings that you should enable right away to keep those prying eyes at bay.
Tighten Up Your Profile Picture Privacy
No one needs strangers gawking at your profile pic like they’ve just discovered a hidden treasure. Head over to the “Settings” menu and tap on “Privacy and Security.” From there, choose “Profile Photo” and select either “My Contacts” or even better, “Nobody.” Now only your trusted pals can feast their eyes on that glorious selfie of yours.
Banish Unwanted Intruders with Two-Step Verification
We all know how sneaky hackers can be these days. Protect yourself by enabling two-step verification in the same “Privacy and Security” section. Once activated, you’ll need a password (which you shouldn’t share with anyone!) along with an SMS code sent straight to your phone whenever someone tries to log into your account from a new device. Say goodbye to unwanted intruders!
Keep Those Messages Self-Destructing
If Mission Impossible taught us anything, it’s that self-destructing messages are super cool. Well, guess what? You can have them too! In any secret chat conversation, simply tap on the timer icon next to the text box and set an expiration time for each message sent. Poof! It disappears forever once the clock runs out.
Safeguard Your Last Seen Status
We get it – sometimes you want some alone time without people knowing when was the last moment they spotted you online. To hide your “Last Seen” status, go to “Privacy and Security,” then select “Last Seen & Online.” You can choose to show it to everyone, only your contacts, or keep it a secret from the world. Your choice!
Block Those Pesky Strangers
Got an annoying someone who just won’t leave you alone? Block them like there’s no tomorrow! Head over to their profile page, tap on the three dots at the top right corner, and select “Block User.” Boom! They’re gone for good – no more pesky messages or calls.
Beware of Forwarded Messages
We’ve all fallen victim to those chain messages that promise bad luck if we don’t forward them. Don’t be fooled! Protect yourself by going into “Settings,” selecting “Privacy and Security,” and disabling the option that allows forwarded messages to be seen as sent by you. No more superstitions haunting your Telegram chats!
Keep Group Chats Exclusive
If you’re part of a super-secret group chat with your closest pals, make sure nobody else sneaks in uninvited. In the group settings menu (accessible through tapping on the group name), enable the option called “Invite Links” so that only admins can generate invite links for new members. Keep it exclusive!
Say Goodbye to Cloud Storage Syncing
Worried about sensitive information being stored in Telegram’s cloud? Disable syncing in the app’s settings under “Data and Storage.” By doing this, none of your media files will be automatically uploaded onto Telegram’s servers – keeping everything strictly between you and your buddies.
In Conclusion
Your privacy matters, mate! With these eight essential privacy settings enabled on Telegram, you’ll be the captain of your own chat ship. So, don’t wait around – go ahead and secure those conversations like a pro!