Telegram is widely praised for its strong privacy features, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely hack-proof. In recent years, more and more users have reported Telegram being hacked.
In this guide, we’ll share how to recognize the signs of a hack, how to recover hacked Telegram account, and ensure it doesn’t happen again.
How to Know If My Telegram Account Has Been Hacked?
Telegram is known for its security and privacy features, but it is still vulnerable to hacking.
So, how can you tell if your Telegram account has been hacked? Here are the key signs to watch out for:
1. You’ve seen unusual activity on your account
Messages that you don’t recall sending have shown up in your conversations, your username, profile image, or bio have changed without your consent, or you’ve been joined to a Telegram group or channel that you’ve never been a part of. Your account may be being used by someone else.
2. You’ve been kicked off your device
If you’ve suddenly been logged out of Telegram for no apparent reason, this could mean someone has logged into your account and deleted your session.
While Telegram typically sends alerts for new logins, hackers quickly delete these notifications.
3. You see unknown devices logged in
Telegram allows you to see which devices are currently logged into your account.
Go to “Settings” > “Privacy and Security” > “Active sessions”.
If you see unfamiliar devices or locations, someone else has accessed your account.
4. Friends are receiving messages you didn’t send
Sometimes, your friends may mention strange messages they’ve received from you that you never sent.
Hackers typically delete messages they’ve sent from your chats, so you won’t know unless someone tells you.
5. Received a login code you didn’t request
Telegram uses two-step verification, which sends a login code when someone tries to access your account from a new device.
If you received a code but didn’t try to log in, someone might be trying to hack into your account.
6. Suspicious subscriptions or payments
Telegram allows in-app purchases, such as premium subscriptions. If you see unpaid or unregistered subscriptions, it means someone might be using your account for something other than chatting.
Read more: What is Telegram? Is Telegram Safe?
How to Recover a Hacked Telegram Account?
If you suspect your Telegram account has been hacked, act fast. Here’s how to lock out the hacker and re-secure your account.
Step 1: Log back in with your phone number
Telegram accounts are tied to your phone number. This means you can usually log back in just by opening the Telegram app and entering your phone number. Once you’re logged in, you’ll need to act quickly to remove any unauthorized users.
Step 2: Remove suspicious devices
Go to Settings > “Privacy and Security” > “Active sessions.” You’ll see all the devices currently logged into your account. If a device you don’t recognize appears, log out of it immediately.
Alternatively, you can tap “Terminate all other sessions” to sign out of all devices except the one you’re currently using.
Step 3: Enable two-step verification
Set up two-step verification. This adds a password to your account that you’ll need to enter in addition to the login code sent to your phone.
To enable or change two-step verification, go to “Settings” > “Privacy and Security” > “Two-Step Verification”. Create a strong password that’s different from any you’ve used elsewhere.
If you already have two-step verification enabled and you’ve still been hacked, update your password immediately.
Step 4: Scan your phone for malware
If you didn’t click on any suspicious links or share your login code, your device may have been compromised. Malicious apps or spyware could be stealing login credentials secretly.
Run a full scan with a trusted antivirus and remove any suspicious programs.
Step 5: Tell your contacts
If the hacker has been using your account to send messages to others, tell your contacts not to click on any links or share personal information until you’re sure your account is safe again.
Step 6: Contact Telegram Support
If you can’t get back into your account, it may be because the hacker enabled two-step verification or logged out of all your devices, and you’ll need to ask Telegram for help directly.
You have two options:
- In-app support: If you’re still logged in on at least one device, go to “Settings” > “Ask a Question”. Contact the Telegram support bot for help.
- Telegram support form: If you lose access at all, fill out the form on the official Telegram support page.
Read more: 10 Best Telegram Bots You Must Try
What If You Can’t Recover the Account?
If the above methods still don’t help you get back to your account, the last resort is to delete your old account and start over with the same phone number.
This will result in:
- Erasing all your chat history
- Removing you as an admin from any channels or groups you own
To delete your account:
- If you still have access: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Delete My Account, If Away For… > Delete Account Now.
- If you don’t have access but have 2-step verification enabled: Try resetting your account through the app by selecting “Forgot password” and following the steps to delete your account.
If you didn’t set up 2-step verification and have completely lost access to your account, you won’t be able to delete it manually. In this case, notify your friends and groups immediately so they don’t get tricked by any scam emails from your old account.
How to Avoid Telegram Account Hacked?
Telegram is known for its privacy-first approach, but it’s still vulnerable to hacks, scams, and phishing attacks. There are a few simple steps you can take right now to protect your Telegram account.
1. Enable two-step verification
Two-step verification adds an extra layer of security by requiring a password in addition to the login code that Telegram sends to your phone. That way, even if someone gets your phone number, they still can’t access your account without your password.
How to enable:
- Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Two-Step Verification
- Set a strong password
- Add a recovery email (to reset it if you forget)
Make sure your password is unique and don’t reuse it with other accounts.
The most common Telegram scam is to send a message to a user pretending to be a Telegram user, asking for the login code.
Remember that Telegram will never ask for your login code in a chat or direct message (DM).
3. Be careful when clicking on links
Avoid clicking on suspicious links, especially those that promise free Telegram Premium, gifts, or voting rewards. These links are usually phishing attacks designed to steal your account.
4. Protect your privacy with a VPN
Using a VPN not only helps you access restricted content but also provides you with additional protection by hiding your IP address and encrypting your internet connection.
We recommend using LightningX VPN. It offers fast and stable connections, covering more than 70 countries, more than 2000 secure servers, and military-grade encryption.
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5. Check logged-in devices regularly
It is recommended that you regularly check the devices currently logged into your Telegram account.
Go to Settings > Devices. If you find an unfamiliar device or location, terminate the session immediately.
6. Keep Telegram updated
Always use the latest version of Telegram. Updates usually contain important security patches.
In addition, make sure your phone’s operating system is up to date to protect against known vulnerabilities.
FAQ about Telegram Hacked
1. How to Recover Telegram’s Two-Step Verification Code?
If you forget your Telegram two-step verification code (password), you can’t directly recover your account.
But you can use your recovery email. Please click “Forgot password?” when logging in, and Telegram will send a reset link to your email.
If you don’t have a recovery email set up, you need to wait a few days until Telegram allows you to reset or delete your account. During this time, you will not be able to log in.
2. What if my Telegram channel has been hacked?
If your Telegram channel has been hacked, here’s what to do:
- Log in to Telegram with your phone number, end the suspicious session (Settings > Devices), and enable two-step verification.
- If you still have access to the channel, immediately go to the channel settings and remove all unknown admins.
- If you have completely lost control of the channel, contact Telegram support with a detailed description of the situation to get unblocked.
