Is Your Telegram Account Really Secure? How to Implement Privacy Settings on Telegram?

In recent years, Telegram has gained a large user base due to its high encryption technology and security features, especially among users who have higher privacy protection needs. However, there are also many discussions regarding monitoring on Telegram; are these discussions valid? How can we implement Telegram’s privacy settings to protect our information security?

Does Telegram Officially Monitor Your Account?

There are some claims that Telegram is not completely secure, and for the normal operation of the application, the official may monitor it, including reviewing user chat content, especially for users in certain specific regions. This seems to warrant discussion:

Only used to search for resources:

If you are only using Telegram to search for resources, such as learning materials, movies, etc., and do not express any risky comments, nor engage in any black market activities, then the risk of being monitored is relatively low.

Reasons are as follows:

1. Low Risk: Searching for resources is not a major risk, and if monitoring mechanisms are to target this type of user, it would require a large amount of manpower and resources, which is not cost-effective.
2. User Feedback: Many users have shared their long-term experiences using Telegram, indicating that they have not encountered any issues.

However, if your usage purpose is more sensitive, such as participating in political discussions, sharing sensitive information, etc., then the risk of monitoring will increase.

What Situations Should You Pay Attention to Regarding Telegram Monitoring?

In certain situations, you may be monitored while using Telegram.

1. Official App Permissions: If you have downloaded the official Telegram app and granted it certain permissions, the official infrastructure may have monitoring capabilities, and there are notifications about this.
2. Third-party Apps and Speed Boosters: Using unofficial Telegram apps or free speed boosters can compromise security. These apps may be embedded with monitoring capabilities, posing security risks.
3. Privacy Settings Forgotten: If you forget to set privacy settings, it could lead to your phone number being visible to everyone. This is not a good practice, as some malicious individuals may obtain your information.

How to Implement Telegram Privacy Settings?

To protect your information security, it is recommended to implement the following privacy settings before using Telegram:

1. Hide Phone Number:
   • Open the Telegram app.
   • Click on the person icon in the upper left corner.
   • Enter “Settings”.
   • Select “Privacy and Security”.
   • Click on “Phone Number”.
   • Set “Who can see your phone number” to “Nobody” or “My Contacts”.
   • Set “Who can find you by your phone number” to “My Contacts”.
2. Limit Contacts Visibility:
   • In the “Privacy and Security” settings, find “Contacts”.
   • Set “Who can see your contacts list” to “Only my contacts” or “Only me”.
3. Control Chat Visibility:
   • In the “Privacy and Security” settings, find “Chat”.
   • Set “Who can send you messages” to “Only my contacts” or “Only me”.
4. Message Self-Destruct:
   • In the “Privacy and Security” settings, find “Message Self-Destruct”.
   • Choose to set a self-destruct timer for messages.
   • Select the self-destruct time, e.g., 1 hour, 1 day, 7 days, or forever.
5. File Sharing Settings:
   • In the “Privacy and Security” settings, find “File Sharing”.
   • Choose who can access the files you share, such as “Only me” or “Only participants”.
6. Disable Read Receipts:
   • In the “Privacy and Security” settings, find “Disable Read Receipts”.
   • Disable the “Show Read Receipts” option.
7. Use Proxy Servers:
   • In the “Settings”, select “Data and Network”.
   • Click on “Proxy Settings”.
   • Choose “Custom”.
   • Enter the details of the proxy server.

How to Manage Your Telegram Groups?

As you use Telegram, the number of groups you join will likely increase. If effective management is not implemented, it can easily lead to information chaos. This not only affects your user experience but can also negatively impact privacy settings. To better manage your Telegram groups, you can try the following methods to help you organize and optimize group lists.

1. Use File Folders:
   • Click on the person icon in the upper left corner.
   • Enter “Settings”.
   • Select “Chat”.
   • Click on “File Folders”.
   • Create different file folders, such as “Work”, “Friends”, “Hobbies”, etc.
   • Drag groups into the corresponding file folders.
2. Set Group Notifications:
   • Long press the group chat.
   • Click on “Set Notifications”.
   • Choose the time and method you wish to receive notifications.
3. Mute Inactive Groups:
   • Long press the group chat.
   • Click on “Mute”.
   • Mute inactive groups to maintain a clean chat list.
4. Use Search Functionality:
   • Click on the search icon in the upper left corner.
   • Enter the group name or keywords.
   • Quickly find the group you want.

Conclusion

Telegram is a powerful and secure communication tool, but only by properly setting privacy options can you maximize the protection of your information security, making your Telegram experience safer and more convenient.

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