If secure communications pique your interest, you may have come across Telegram, a service that combines messaging with VOIP. This cloud-based platform enables users to send messages, images, video streams, audio files, and various other types of files anonymously.
Nevertheless, in spite of the buzz surrounding it, Telegram is not necessarily a secure app for communication. Encryption is performed only on the client’s side, and experts in cryptography have raised concerns regarding the app’s security framework. For instance, all messages and contacts are stored alongside their decryption keys, which means there is no end-to-end encryption implemented for messages. Furthermore, Telegram’s unique encryption method has been shown to present notable issues in terms of security and reliability.
Due to these concerns, many users continue to utilize Telegram while seeking ways to maintain anonymity during usage.
Specifically, a significant number of individuals wish to leverage Telegram without revealing their phone numbers within the application. This article will guide you through the process of achieving that.
Is It Possible to Conceal My Phone Number on Telegram?
Upon signing up for Telegram, you are required to grant the app permissions for making and receiving calls, as well as providing your phone number. Regrettably, if you’re registering for Telegram on your main device, this information is a necessity.
However, it’s important to note that Telegram does not utilize your number for communications nor does it disclose it to other users. Instead, the username linked to your account serves as your identifier within the service.
Other Telegram users can only view your phone number if that number is saved in your device and if you have synced your contacts with Telegram. This includes friends, individuals in your contacts, and those with whom you have willingly shared your number.
This system is straightforward, offering a degree of privacy. As long as you do not save the person’s number in your contacts, they will merely see your Telegram username. Yet, there is a method to conceal your phone number on Telegram. Follow these steps to proceed:
- Launch Telegram and select Settings at the bottom left corner.
- Select Privacy and Security.
- Click on Phone number.
- Tap on either My Contacts (this option allows your contacts to see your phone number) or Nobody (in which case, your phone number will remain unseen by anyone).
This ensures that no one can view your phone number via the app, however, remember that your phone number will still link to your account.
Additional Telegram Privacy Tips
Telegram aims to protect your privacy within the app, ensuring that messages are kept on your device rather than being stored on Telegram’s servers, thereby safeguarding them from unauthorized access.
When you delete a message, it disappears for both parties involved, allowing you to manage what the other participant sees in the chat. Nonetheless, there are more adjustments you can implement in Terminal to enhance the confidentiality of your conversations.
Here are a few methods to bolster the security of your Telegram chats.
Self-Destructing Chats
Telegram features a Secret Chat option that employs end-to-end encryption and can self-destruct after a chosen time interval. Although you need to set a timer for these chats, the remainder of the process operates automatically. This is an excellent feature for any chats you never wish to be recoverable.
- Start a secret chat on Telegram.
- Click on the three-dot menu icon.
- Choose Set self-destruct timer and specify a duration.
Once the timer is activated, all messages within that secret chat will be erased once the time is up. Additionally, Telegram disables your smartphone’s screenshot functionality while you are engaged in a secret chat, providing added security.
Conceal Screenshots from Your Phone Gallery
To prevent your Telegram screenshots from showing up in your phone’s media gallery, you can choose to hide them. This allows you to control what media is visible outside of Telegram, helping you avoid unintentionally disclosing photos while browsing through your gallery.
For Android devices:
- Access the Telegram Settings.
- Click on Chat Settings.
- Disable Save to gallery by toggling it Off.
For iOS devices:
- Launch the Settings app.
- Choose Privacy and Photos.
- Switch Telegram off.
You will still have the ability to access that media within Telegram, but it will not be accessible from any other location on your device.
Establish a Passcode
If your phone is accessible to others and you wish to protect your privacy, it’s advisable to set a passcode for Telegram. This secures the application and prevents anyone else from using or viewing it without your passcode.
- Launch Telegram, then tap Settings.
- Then tap Privacy and Security.
- Select Passcode Lock, followed by Turn Passcode On.
- If prompted, enter and confirm your passcode.
From this point, entering your PIN will be necessary when starting Telegram for the first time. Ensure you memorize your PIN or keep it in a secure location – it is essential for accessing your Telegram account.
Conceal Last Seen for Specific Contacts on Telegram
As you may already know, Telegram reveals to others when you last utilized the app. If you’re looking to avoid someone or wish to communicate without being noticed, follow these instructions.
- Access Settings in the Telegram application.
- Choose Privacy and Security.
- Tap on Last Seen & Online.
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- Choose from Everybody, My Contacts, or Nobody.
Creating a Telegram Account Without Using Your Phone Number
As mentioned previously, signing up for Telegram requires providing a phone number. However, it does not necessarily have to be YOUR personal number.
Since Telegram only uses the number for verification during the account setup, you can utilize a number that does not link back to your identity. There are multiple methods to establish your account on Telegram without leaving a detectable trace of your true identity.
Using a Landline
It is not mandatory to have a cell phone for Telegram registration. If you are unable to receive SMS texts, Telegram can call a landline and deliver the verification code directly. Payphones still exist in various locations, and some are capable of receiving incoming calls.
Another option is to borrow a phone from a library or retail shop. Many healthcare centers provide public phones in their lobbies for visitors. If you receive the verification call from Telegram, you can use that number without being tracked.
Utilizing Google Voice
Google Voice is a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service offered by Google. By creating a Google Voice account, you receive a local phone number that is linked to a Google account. However, establishing a new, anonymous Google account is relatively straightforward.
- Log out of all existing Google accounts.
- Register for a new Google account.
- Once your new account is established, link it to a new Google Voice account.
- Select a phone number.
“` - Join Telegram and provide your Google Voice number as the contact.
- Obtain the authorization code from your Google Voice account and enter it into Telegram.
Utilize a Temporary Number
If you prefer not to navigate the process of creating a new Google alias, signing up for a burner number is an alternative. Numerous services offer a temporary phone number or an additional number without requiring extensive identity verification.
Various websites provide this service, but FreePhoneNum offers a complimentary service that perfectly suits your needs. You can obtain a temporary number from this site at no cost, which will then be recycled and reused by others in the future.
Given that this site operates independently from Telegram, there is no way to trace your identity back to the temporary number used for signing up for Telegram.
- Go to FreePhoneNum and select one of the available numbers.
- Input the number you chose in Telegram.
- Wait for Telegram to send the verification code via SMS to FreePhoneNum.
- Input that verification code into Telegram.
Utilize a Burner Phone
You can still acquire old feature phones (non-smartphones that remain operational on cellular networks) from thrift stores or through private sales. Alternatively, you might purchase someone else’s used phone that has a functioning SMS service for only a few dollars.
This is a somewhat
The phone resale world has a shady side, with many of these devices often purchased for illegal activities. However, possessing a phone that isn’t linked to your identity is not against the law.
After acquiring the phone, register for Telegram and then dispose of it. You can access your Telegram account on your primary phone using your username and password without needing to verify your identity again. Just remember to disable “Two-Factor Verification” in Settings to avoid the need for that phone number in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to conceal my last name on Telegram?
Sadly, Telegram does not allow us to hide our first or last names from others. However, you can modify your name within the app. Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner, then select Settings. On this new page, click the three vertical dots in the upper right corner. From the menu, choose Edit name. Enter the name you’d prefer to show and click the checkmark in the upper right corner.
Final Thoughts
Even though it may not be the most secure messaging platform available, Telegram provides some level of security, and there are various measures you can undertake to enhance its safety. By implementing the suggestions outlined above, you can effortlessly create a Telegram account with anonymity and adjust your settings to safeguard your privacy.
Do you have any additional tips for securing Telegram further? Feel free to share them in the comments below!