With the convenience of messaging apps like Telegram comes the responsibility of safeguarding our accounts from potential security threats.

In this article, I’ll discuss how you can know if your Telegram is hacked and what you can do about it.

To check if Telegram is hacked, look out for any suspicious activities, such as unauthorized messages, unknown contacts, alerts from Telegram about a new login, and any other strange account behavior.

If you suspect that your Telegram account has been hacked, the first thing you need to do is check if there are any unknown devices or active sessions logged into your account.

We’ll discuss these and more in detail but first, I’m going to discuss a few tricks hackers might use to gain unauthorised access to your Telegram account.

How can Telegram be Hacked?

Knowing how an unauthorized person can get into your Telegram account is as important as knowing the signs of a hack and what to do about it,.

Maybe even a little bit more important because it will help you know how to protect your account from intruders.

Below are the most common ways hackers can get into your account:

Telegram Public Hacks

One way your Telegram might be compromised is through Public hacks; instances where the Telegram company gets hacked and users’ accounts are compromised as well.

These kinds of hacks usually affect a large number of people in an untargeted way.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to prevent these kinds of attacks because the security is down to the main companies.

However, the company usually advises its users on what to do in these kinds of situations.

Spy Apps

A more targeted way of hacking someone’s Telegram account is through Spy Apps.

For this type of hacking, the intruder/hacker needs access to your device to install spy software on it.

This makes it more likely that the hacker will be someone close enough to you to access your device.

Spy apps are extremely powerful, making this kind of hack very effective because everything you do on your phone will most likely be compromised. So, beware!

Phishing

Hackers and scammers may try to gain access to your account by sending you fake messages posing as Telegram.

You may receive messages like: “Your account has been temporarily blocked, to confirm your identity click the link below.”

These are just Phishing messages trying to trick you into resetting your account or giving out your confirmation codes for them to access your account.

Furthermore, it’s quite common for a hacker or scammer to impersonate a Telegram user by using a username that’s only slightly different from the original.

For example, an attacker may try to impersonate this user; Jm0ss2 by creating the username jmoss2, you can hardly tell the difference!

How to check if Telegram is Hacked

Now that you’ve acquainted yourself with the different ways an intruder may gain unauthorized access to your Telegram account, below are the signs you should look out for to know if your Telegram account is hacked.

1. If your telegram app sends unsolicited texts, images, and videos to your contacts, that could be a sign that you have an intruder on your account.
   
   You might receive complaints from your contacts about messages from you they don’t understand.
   
   You can also check your chat history for any messages you don’t remember sending yourself.
   

2. If all of a sudden you’re not able to access your Telegram account, or your Telegram app prompts you to sign in every time you want to use it.
   

3. If Telegram often asks you to re-verify your contact details (re-enter your phone and email every single time you open your account).
   

4. If you receive a notification that your Telegram account is being logged in from a different location and you’re sure it isn’t you. 
   
   However, when you receive a notification like this, make sure you verify that it is from Telegram because hackers could use this very trick to gain access to your account. 
   
   You can also manually check the devices logged into your account via your Settings.

Also read: Is It Possible To Hide Views On Telegram Channel?

5. Check your profile and contacts to see if you have any unrecognized changes to your profile or any new contacts that you didn’t add yourself.
   
6. If you notice that your account settings have been changed without your knowledge, such as your profile picture, username, or phone number, it could be a sign your Telegram account is hacked.

How to Recover Hacked Telegram Account

If your Telegram account has been hacked, you might want to act fast and take the necessary precautions to minimize the damage to your data and that of your contacts. 

Below are a few tips on Telegram hacked account recovery or what to do with your Telegram account hacked.

Terminate Unknown Active Sessions/Devices

Since Telegram supports multi-device connections, you can have the same Telegram account open on various devices at the same time.

This makes you vulnerable because it is possible that at some point you may forget that you are logged in to one or another device, and if an intruder gets their hands on it, it can be misused. 

The good news is that Telegram also gives you the option to use your current device to end any/all other active sessions, so it’s pretty easy to put a stop to a hacker if they get access this way.

To do this:

Go to Settings > Devices > Privacy and Security > Active Sessions

Here, you can see all devices that have access to your account.

If you see any unknown device(s) or device with a suspicious IP, simply click Terminate session to remove it.

Now you can change your password and check active sessions a few days later.

Alternatively, you can just use the Terminate all other sessions option, which will log you out of all other devices except the one you are currently using, and then you can log in afresh.

Also read: Guide: 3 Ways How to Sell on Telegram

Set Passcode Lock

Passcode Lock is another Telegram feature that you can use to protect your data.

When you turn this on, you’ll be required to enter that code every time you open your Telegram.

Follow the steps below to create a passcode:

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Passcode Lock

Enter your 4-Digit password then re-enter it for confirmation (make sure it’s a strong password).

If your phone has “Fingerprint” ability, you may also enable the Unlock with Fingerprint option, this will help you to enter faster and more securely.

Warning: If you forget your passcode you will not be able to access your account. You will have to delete and reinstall the app and all secret chats will be deleted.

Reset Your Email Password

Once an attacker has access to the email you used to set up your Telegram app, then they’re halfway into your account because all the authentication codes are sent to your email.

So, the moment you realize that your Telegram account has been hacked, make sure you reset your passwords including that of your email ID.

Please don’t use a password that you use elsewhere. Alternatively, consider using a password manager tool to generate secure passwords and save them easily.

If none of the above seems to work for you, contact the Telegram security team for assistance.

How To Secure Your Telegram Account

Here are a few things you can do to keep your Telegram account safe and prevent potential hacking:

Enable two-step verification

By default, your Telegram app only requires you to input your phone number, enter the OTP received via SMS and you are logged in.

In a case where an intruder gains access to your phone and this OTP, then your account is a goner!

To keep this from happening, you can use this Telegram feature; the two-step verification, where you can create a strong password and use it to log in.

This way, hackers wouldn’t easily gain access to your account.

To do this:

Open your Telegram app and sign in to your account.

Tap the Menu (≡) in the top-left corner.

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Two-Step Verification

Create a strong password and re-enter it for confirmation.

Also read: Guide: Does Telegram Notify When You Save a Photo

You can create a hint for the password if you want to (it will show in public).

Enter your email address, a verification email will be sent to this address

Go to your inbox, open the email, and click the “confirmation link”, or you can just enter the confirmation code.

Monitor Active Sessions/Devices

Active sessions is a very useful feature that enables you to view all the devices that are connected to your Telegram account.

To protect yourself from intruders, make sure you regularly check this option and terminate any sessions or devices that you’re not using at the moment.

Refer to the What To Do About Your Hacked Telegram Account section of this article for details on how to do this.

Ignore Phishing Messages

As we already established earlier, intruders can send you fake messages posing as Telegram to try and get into your account.

Remember that Telegram never asks you to confirm your identity, also, if you examine these messages closely you will notice that the link is not that of the Telegram website, just similar to it!

To avoid all this, just ignore these messages and do not click the link they provide.

Additionally, try to make sure you know who you’re communicating with on your Telegram account. 

Avoid opening .exe files from other users

Rather than attacking any features intrinsic to Telegram itself, some hackers use Telegram as a means to communicate with their potential victims.

For example, some hackers have channels that claim to provide interested users with hacking software. 

However, these files (.exe) once opened by the victim, the ‘hacking software’ infects their computer with malware which they may use to steal your information and misuse your account.

Restrict the information you share on your Telegram Account

Another way you can protect your Telegram account from intruders is by limiting the information you share on your Telegram profile.

You don’t need to share unnecessary details with all 700 million Telegram users, so make sure you configure your profile’s privacy settings appropriately. 

Under Telegram’s Privacy settings, configure your account to share less info, here’s some guidance for you:

Phone Number: Who can see my phone number — Nobody.

Data and Storage: Auto-Download Media → Toggle off

Phone Number: Who can find me by my number — My Contacts.

Last Seen & Online: Who can see my timestamp — Nobody.

Profile photo: Who can see my profile photo — My Contacts.

Calls: Who can call me — My Contacts (or Nobody, if you prefer).

Calls: Peer-to-peer — My contacts (or Nobody, if you prefer not to share your IP address with chat partners).

Forwarded Messages: Who can add a link to my account when forwarding my messages — My Contacts.

Groups & Channels: Who can add me — My Contacts.

Do Not Use Jailbroken or Rooted Devices

Using jailbroken or rooted devices makes it easier for a potential attacker to gain full administrative control over your device; also known as having root access.

A user with root access can easily bypass security features built into the operating system.

Once an attacker has root access, any efforts to mitigate threats become futile.

No matter how strong the encryption is, no application can be called safe under these circumstances.

Also read: How To Tell When Your WhatsApp Is Hacked And How To Fix It

FAQ

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is crucial to ensure the security of your Telegram account to prevent hacking attempts.

The steps and tips in this article will help you significantly reduce the chances of your account being compromised.

If you confirm that your Telegram got hacked, endeavour to take immediate action to prevent further breaches.

Remember to stay vigilant and keep your account safe.

Tip: Much as Telegram provides end-to-end encryption for messages, these messages stay on the Telegram servers so that you can access them from multiple devices.

Therefore a breach on Telegram’s servers could lead to your messages being exposed.

It’s also worth noting that the Telegram end-to-end encryption is not by default. Only secret chats are end-to-end encrypted.