So you’ve tried Telegram and decided it’s no longer for you. Perhaps you only needed it for a short trip or maybe you’ve found a more secure app to protect your messages. In this article, we’ll review how to delete a Telegram account permanently and the security of Telegram.
Permanently delete your Telegram account in 5 steps
There is no way to instantly delete a Telegram account within the mobile app. But with a desktop web browser, you can delete a Telegram account in minutes. Here’s how:
- Start by going to the Telegram deactivation page
- Type in your phone number and click Next
- Enter the confirmation code from Telegram and click Sign In
- Optional: Type a message about why you’re deleting Telegram
- Click Delete My Account
- Confirm Yes, delete my account
How to delete a Telegram account in-app:
If you can’t get to a computer to delete your Telegram account, you can still start the process from your phone. Instead of instantly deleting your account, however, you’ll initiate a self-destruct process. This self-destruct process will delete your Telegram account in the future—along with all your connected contacts and messages— but only after a period of inactivity.
- Open the Telegram app and navigate to Settings
- Select Privacy and Security
- Go down to the If Away For option above Data Settings.
- Select 1 month
- And you’re all set!
If you log in to Telegram again before the 1 month self-destruct time passes, you will reset the clock. So make sure that doesn’t happen otherwise you will have to wait even longer for your Telegram account to permanently delete itself.
Is Telegram secure?
Telegram is already one of the most popular messaging apps of the last few years. It’s casually seen as a more secure alternative to WhatsApp (which now shares data with its parent company, Meta) along with Facebook Messenger.
And it’s true in certain circumstances; Telegram can be one of the safest chat applications, with its tools like self-destructing messages to help keep your most personal messages, well, personal. But these data privacy settings – even end-to-end encryption – are not enabled by default (a negligent choice at best given its marketing identity as a security-focused service). So, if you’re using Telegram for its safety as opposed to Line or WhatsApp, make sure you’re only communicating in Secret Chats. These enable you to have conversations using timers to self-destruct messages and photos, and they’re the only communications encrypted on Telegram servers.
While no platform is without its weak spots, Telegram has seen more than its fair share of vulnerabilities, mass data breaches, and targeted DDoS attacks. So, no matter your messaging app of choice, it’s always best to follow cybersecurity best practices when sending any personal information online.
Why it’s important to delete inactive accounts
Many of us have opened accounts we no longer use. It may be part of an old blog, social network, or even an old fitness or dating app. As a cybersecurity best practice, it’s usually advised that you should delete and deactivate any account that you no longer use.
This prevents hackers from breaking into your old accounts or—perhaps worse—using old data to crack your current accounts. (This also serves as a reminder not to reuse old credential sets like pins and passwords.)
Add one more layer of connection security (with a VPN)
A hacker may have many tricks up their sleeve. Whether you’re using Telegram, WhatsApp, or some other messaging tool, it’s important to keep cybersecurity best practices top of mind.
Communication apps feel highly personal and intimate. It’s easy to forget that some of the most common cybersecurity threats take place over email or direct message. One of the easiest ways to add another layer of encryption and security to your life is through a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
A VPN encrypts your internet connection and anonymizes your IP address while you use your favorite apps. Pairing a VPN with a messaging app offers increased network privacy as you read and write your messages and protection from outsiders while your communications are in transit.
