Residents of Nizhny Novgorod Alerted over Widespread Hacking of Telegram Profiles
In recent times, there has been a surge in Telegram account hacking incidents across Russia, as reported by the Investigative Committee of Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region. Scammers are employing various deceptive tactics to gain control over users' accounts, potentially accessing sensitive personal information stored within chats.
One such method involves scammers claiming a gifted premium subscription that requires activation via a special link. Another tactic is sending messages with unexpected pleas for help regarding distressed relatives, accompanied by links. These links, if clicked, could result in your Telegram account falling into the scammers' hands, giving them access to your personal messages, photos, and documents saved in your chats.
To safeguard your Telegram account, it is crucial to enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Here's a step-by-step guide to help you secure your account:
1. Open Telegram and go to Settings: - On mobile apps, tap the three horizontal lines (menu) on the top left or the gear icon on the bottom right.
2. Navigate to Privacy and Security: - Scroll to find the Privacy and Security section inside Settings.
3. Find and Enable Two-Step Verification: - Tap on **Two-Step Verification** or **Two-Factor Authentication**. - Telegram will prompt you to set a password as a second layer of security beyond the SMS code.
4. Set a Strong Password: - Choose a strong password mixing uppercase, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. - Save this password securely because you will need it to log in on new devices.
5. Add a Recovery Email: - Telegram recommends linking an email to your account to help recover access if you forget your 2FA password.
6. Confirm and Activate: - Complete the process by following the on-screen prompts.
Additional security tips include using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your internet traffic and hide your IP address, particularly important in regions like Russia where surveillance is common. Additionally, avoid suspicious links and regularly update your app.
By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of your Telegram account being hacked, not just in Russia, but anywhere. Stay vigilant and protect your personal information by avoiding clicking on suspicious links in Telegram messages.
| Step | Action | |--------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Open Settings | Tap menu > Settings | | Go to Privacy and Security | Find Two-Step Verification | | Enable 2FA | Set a strong password | | Add Recovery Email | Link an email for password recovery | | Use VPN (recommended) | Protect data and location, especially in Russia |
- Given the rising incidents of Telegram account hacking in Russia, it seems I might not be able to get a job that requires the use of Telegram, considering the potential risks of falling victim to scammers.
- To mitigate these cybersecurity threats in technology, I should follow general-news recommendations and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on my Telegram account, implementing the steps outlined for secure login and data protection, and stay vigilant against clicking on suspicious links.
