The Ultimate Guide to Telegram Security: 3 Privacy Settings + Efficient Monitoring Tools

In recent years, Telegram 's user base has continued to expand, and this platform has gradually become a popular place for people to share and discuss information. At the same time, because Telegram provides relatively strict privacy protection, many users tend to discuss some sensitive topics here. These two reasons have increased the demand for information security among Telegram users. Therefore, it is crucial for every user to know how to protect their information security when using Telegram.

Telegram privacy settings options

Telegram provides a rich set of privacy settings, allowing users to enhance the security of their accounts and manage who can access their profiles, contact them, or interact with them . Here are the specific settings:

1. Two-factor authentication

Two-Step Verification is an important security feature provided by Telegram that can add an extra layer of protection to your account. Even if someone obtains your SMS verification code, they cannot log into your account unless they know your two-step verification password. Here are the specific steps to set up two-step verification:

(1) Open the Telegram app and tap the three horizontal lines menu button in the upper left corner (or the Settings icon in the lower right corner, depending on your device)

(2) Click "Settings" in the menu.

(3) On the settings page, find and click "Privacy and Security"

(4) Find the “Two-Step Verification” option and click it to enter.

(5) Click “Set Password”. Enter a strong password (it is recommended to contain letters, numbers and special symbols), and confirm the password.

(6) To help you remember your password, Telegram will ask you to set a password hint. Enter a hint (such as "my birthday year"), but do not use the password itself.

(7) Telegram will prompt you to bind a recovery email address. If you forget your two-factor authentication password, you can reset it through this email address.

(8) After the setup is complete, Telegram will prompt you that two-factor authentication has been enabled.

2. Hide your phone number

(1) Follow the instructions in the picture to find "Privacy and Security"

(2) On the "Privacy & Security" page, find the "Phone Number" option.

(3) After clicking, you can choose:

Everyone: All users can see your phone number

My Contacts: Only visible to your contacts

Nobody: Hide your phone number completely

(4) You can also add “Exceptions” to allow specific users to view your phone number

3. Online status setting

(1) Follow the instructions in the picture to find "Privacy and Security"

(2) On the "Privacy & Security" page, find "Last Seen & Online"

(3) After clicking, you can choose:

Everyone: All users can see your online status

My Contacts: Visible only to contacts

Nobody: completely hide your online status

(4) You can also add "exceptions" to allow specific users to view your online status

Online status settings can also set whether the other party can view your read messages.

How to efficiently monitor the security of Telegram accounts

In addition to completing basic privacy settings, actively monitoring account dynamic anomalies is also a key step in preventing security risks. Especially for enterprise users or multi-account operators, centralized monitoring tools can greatly improve management efficiency. The following solutions are provided from the perspective of technical means and tool integration:

Actively monitor abnormal logins and session management

Telegram allows users to view all logged-in devices (including desktop and mobile). If an unknown device is found, it may mean that the account has been stolen. It is recommended to perform the following operations regularly:

Check active sessions:
Go to "Settings" → "Privacy and Security" → "Active Sessions" to view the IP addresses, geographic locations, and login times of all logged-in devices. If there are suspicious devices (such as those from unfamiliar countries or not your own devices), you can directly remove the device and change the password.
Enable session passwords:
Set "Remote Login Password" in "Privacy and Security" to require an additional password when logging in from a new device to prevent intrusion via SMS verification code.

Centralized monitoring with SaleSmartly

For enterprises or individuals operating multiple Telegram accounts, SaleSmartly , as an omni-channel private domain communication platform, can centralize the information of all Telegram accounts into one backend for management:

Aggregate multi-account management: Connect multiple Telegram accounts to the SaleSmartly backend to view message dynamics and login status in a unified manner, avoiding the tedious switching of accounts one by one.
Automatic response to high-risk keywords: By setting "high-risk keywords" (such as "verification code", "password reset", etc.), SaleSmartly can capture these keywords in real time, trigger alarms and automatically push them to designated management members to help quickly identify phishing links or fraudulent information.

Summarize

Telegram's security is highly dependent on users' security awareness and active monitoring. By properly configuring privacy settings, integrating tools (such as SaleSmartly ) for centralized management, and staying vigilant against new attack methods (such as social engineering phishing and malicious scripts), users can significantly reduce the risk of information leakage.

Remember: Telegram account security is not a one-time setting, but a continuous optimization process.