Security Tips: How to Prevent Your Telegram Account from Being Hacked

Conclusion: To keep your Telegram account safe, it is crucial to avoid sharing your personal phone number and verification codes.

Why Sharing Screenshots Can Get Your Account Hacked?

When someone asks you to take a screenshot, it might contain the verification code for logging into your account. Telegram has implemented security measures in its iOS client, where verification codes automatically become invalid if exposed in screen recordings or screenshots. However, the web client, desktop, and Android versions may not offer these same protections. Therefore, please remain vigilant.

Dissecting the Account Hacking Process

Step One: Obtaining Your Phone Number

Hackers typically obtain your phone number through the following methods:

1. Phishing/Social Engineering: They might ask you to send your phone number directly, citing reasons such as lifting private chat restrictions.
2. Adding Contacts: If you don't deselect the 'Share my phone number' option when adding a contact, hackers will be able to see your number.

If hackers cannot obtain your phone number, the subsequent steps cannot proceed.

Step Two: Logging into Your Account

Hackers will attempt to log into your account from their client. At this point, Telegram will send a verification code to the device you are currently using. The verification code message will contain keywords such as "Login" or "give". Hackers will ask you to search for these keywords within Telegram to locate the verification code message and request that you screenshot and send it to them. Once they obtain the verification code, they can attempt to log into your account.

Even if Telegram hides the verification code on the main interface, hackers may still ask you to open the message and take a screenshot to obtain it. If you haven't enabled two-step verification, they will successfully log into your account. If you have enabled two-step verification, they will also need to enter the two-step verification password you set.

Step Three: Actions After Account Hacking

Once hackers successfully log in, they may perform the following actions:

• Log out all your devices
• View your saved data (e.g., passwords)
• Transfer channels and groups you created to their account
• Delete your account

At this point, your account will no longer belong to you.

Potential Damages After an Account is Hacked

1. Impersonate you to contact your contacts and conduct scams.
2. View your private data, such as saved messages (favourites) and private channels.
3. Transfer your groups and channels.
4. Use your account to post advertisements.
5. Engage in other malicious activities.

Summary of Security Advice

1. Never share your phone number.
2. Never reveal your verification code.

Telegram Registration and Login Logic

Registration Logic

1. Initial registration must be done using the official mobile client; the verification code will be sent to your phone.
2. When using a desktop client, the system will prompt you to register via the mobile app.
3. When using a third-party client, it might prompt you to send a verification code, but the SMS might not be received.

Login Logic

1. When logging into an already registered account again, the verification code will be sent directly to your logged-in devices.
2. If two-step verification is not enabled, you log in using 'phone number + verification code'.
3. If two-step verification is enabled, you log in using 'phone number + verification code + two-step verification password'.

By following these security tips, you can effectively prevent your Telegram account from being hacked and protect your personal privacy and information security.