Telegram privacy settings on Mac: Medium level

What for: So you don't get hacked.

To log in to Telegram on a new device, you should scan a QR code with your phone or enter a code received by phone call or SMS. If cybercriminals want to hijack your account, they can intercept a message or incoming call and log in to the messenger in your place.

To protect yourself, enable two-factor authentication. If this feature is activated, when logging in to the app from a new device you should enter not only a code received via SMS or phone call, but also a password. Without the password, cybercriminals will not be able to enter the account, even if they intercept a message or call containing a code. To enable two-factor authentication:

1. Click the cogwheel in the lower right corner of the screen;
2. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
3. Click Two-Step Verification;
4. In the window that opens, click Set Additional Password;
5. Create a strong password, then click Next and enter it again;
6. If you're worried about forgetting your password, add a hint in the next window and click Next;
7. Important! Don't use the password itself as the hint, and don't use a question which answer can easily be googled (e.g., "how many steps are in the Spanish Steps, Rome?");
8. In the next window, enter an e-mail address you can use to recover the password in case you forget it, and click Next;
9. In the window that appears, enter the code that was sent to your e-mail. 

What for: To keep strangers from reading your correspondence.

If you logged in to Telegram on someone else's computer or phone and didn't log out, anyone will be able to read your messages and even write to people from your account. For your convenience, the app keeps a list of active sessions. Check the list and make sure that there are no extra devices connected:

1. Click the cogwheel in the lower right corner of the screen;
2. Go to Active sessions;
3. If you see an unfamiliar device, select it and click Terminate Session.

What for: So that outsiders can't read your messages.

If you leave your device unattended, anybody can take advantage of it and read your correspondence or write messages on your behalf. To prevent this, set a passcode in the privacy settings.

1. Click the cogwheel in the lower right corner of the screen;
2. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
3. Select Passcode Lock;
4. Click Turn Passcode On;
5. Create a strong passcode, enter it twice in a window that opens, and click Done.

If you need to move away from your device, right click the cogwheel in the lower right corner, and select Lock Telegram. You can also use the Cmd ⌘ + L key combination. The app will be locked until you enter the passcode again. From now on, every time you launch Telegram you will be asked to enter the passcode.

Telegram for Mac also lets you set up a timed auto-lock so you don't need to lock it manually every time.

1. Click the cogwheel in the lower right corner of the screen;
2. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
3. Select Passcode Lock;
4. Click Auto-Lock, select a preferred interval, and click Done.

If you forget your passcode, you will need to reinstall Telegram on that device, and all your Secret Chats will be lost.

What for: So the new owner of your old number can't read your correspondence or write messages from your account.

To log in to Telegram on a new device, you can scan a QR code or enter a one-time code received by phone call or SMS. If you decide to change your number or you don't use it for a long time, at some point the operator will transfer the old number to someone else.

In certain circumstances — for example, if you want to log in to Telegram using an SMS code — that code might go to a stranger, who could then access your account. To prevent this, if you change your number you should enter the new one in the settings.

1. Click the cogwheel in the lower right corner of the screen;
2. Click your account name at the top;
3. Click Change Number, then Next, and then click OK in the window that opens;
4. Enter your new number and click Send Code.
5. Enter the code sent via SMS to your new number.

What for: So you can decide who gets to see your number.

By default, only your contacts can see your phone number in Telegram. If you changed this setting and made your number visible to everybody, spammers or obsessive admirers could take advantage of this.

To limit the visibility of your number or hide it completely:

1. Click the cogwheel in the lower right corner of the screen;
2. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
3. Click Phone Number;
4. Next, select My Contacts or Nobody.
5. Click Add Users opposite Never Share With or Always Share With.
6. In the next window, click Add Users or Groups, select the relevant person or group from your contact list and click OK.

What for: So nobody knows when you were last online.

Telegram shows its users when you last entered the app. If you don't want anybody to see that information, you can limit the visibility of your most recent activity in the settings:

1. Click the cogwheel in the lower right corner of the screen;
2. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
3. Click Last Seen;
4. Next, select My Contacts or Nobody.
5. Click Add Users opposite Never Share With or Always Share With.
6. In the next window, click Add Users or Groups, select the relevant person or group from your contact list and click OK.

Downside: you won't see the last seen status of users you've hidden your own activity from. 

What for: To avoid getting distracted and exposing personal data.

By default, Telegram for Mac sends notifications to your desktop about new messages, including private texts. If you're using the application in a public place, strangers might see your messages, and the same goes for colleagues at work. To hide notifications, do the following:

1. Click the cogwheel in the lower right corner of the screen;
2. Go to the Notifications and Sounds section;
3. In the Notifications section, turn off the Message Preview toggle switch.

Even if the text and sender are hidden, notifications can still annoy you or distract from work. To turn off all alerts, in the Notifications and Sounds section, turn off the toggle switch opposite Notifications.

What for: So that strangers can't see your photos and videos.

Telegram lets you upload photos and videos to use as profile pictures. By default, all Telegram users can see them. If you don't want strangers to know what you look like, you can make it so that only your contacts can see your profile photos and videos.

1. Click the cogwheel in the lower right corner of the screen;
2. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
3. In the Privacy and Security section, select Profile Photo;
4. Next, select My Contacts.

Now, everyone except your contacts will see a single-color icon with initials instead of your profile pictures.

1. Click Add Users opposite Never Share With or Always Share With.
2. In the next window, click Add Users or Groups, select the relevant person or group from your contact list and click OK.

What for: So you don't receive messages from people you don't want to communicate with.

If you received a message from a spammer or fraudster, or just somebody you don't want to communicate with, you can block that user.

1. Open the profile of the person you want to block and click their name at the top;
2. Click More, then Block User, and confirm your choice.

The blocked user will not know you added them to your denylist. They can send you messages, but you won't see them — they will appear to the user as unread. Regardless of your other settings, blocked users can't see your photographs or last seen status.

What for: So that you don't get distracted by calls.

By default, only your contacts can call you in Telegram. If at some point you changed these settings and allowed anyone to call you, or you want to only communicate via messages even with close friends, you can block calls:

1. Click the cogwheel in the lower right corner of the screen;
2. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
3. In the Privacy and Security section, select Calls;
4. Then, in the Who can call me section, select My contacts or Nobody.
5. Click Add Users opposite Always Allow or Never Allow.
6. In the next window, click Add Users or Groups, select the relevant person or group from your contact list and click OK. 

What for: So you don't get invitations from anyone.

By default, all Telegram users can send you invitations to channels and groups. To restrict this:

1. Click the cogwheel in the lower right corner of the screen;
2. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
3. In the Privacy and Security section, select Groups and Channels;
4. In the Who can add me to group chats section, select My Contacts.
5. Click Add Users opposite Always Allow or Never Allow.
6. In the next window, click Add Users or Groups, select the relevant person or group from your contact list and click OK.