Top 10 Guidelines To Stay Safe On Discord : As with any platform with a large user base these days, Discord has attracted its fair share of unsavory people. Spambots, cyber attackers, trolls, and the like are now scouring the platform looking for their next victims. Make sure you don’t become one of them by using these ten valuable tips to stay safe on Discord.
Beware of spam links
Spotting scams on Discord has never been easier, as the app always asks if you’re safe when you visit links on domains you haven’t marked as trustworthy. Don’t blindly click “Yes!” on any connection because that “image” could very well be a phishing domain or malware in disguise. Beware of “.exe” extensions at the end of links, as this is a sure sign of malware.
Use a VPN
Most online chat programs are loading with so-called “IP grabbers” – scripts and links that pass your IP address to a malicious third party. Unfortunately, Discord is no different in this regard. Now, if you didn’t know, your IP address reveals sensitive details about your location, including your country, city, and even zip code.
You can probably guess it’s not a pleasant experience. If you already don’t feel safe online, having a random creeper discover your physical location can only make the feeling worse. Fortunately, VPNs hide your actual IP address and replace it with a new one depending on the server you’re using, keeping your exact location a secret.
Additionally, it will encrypt your network traffic (essentially scramble it) to protect it from eavesdropping and other cyber attacks. In general, VPNs are great security tools, especially for use on unsecured networks, like the free Wi-Fi at your local cafe.
Check your Discord privacy settings
Discord already has its security settings built-in, so take advantage of it. One of those settings is “Secure Direct Messaging,” which scans your DMs for explicit content and blocks any content deemed dangerous. Go to the Situations page and click on “Privacy and security” to find the option.
We recommend enabling the “Keep me safe” setting. How about the “My friends are nice” option, you ask? Well, you not ever know when one of them ends up with a compromised account. Tell them about this article, so they never do!
Choose your friends wisely
Speaking of which, carefully consider who you add on Discord. Creating new friends is cool and all, but unsolicited requests for internet rides are not. Fortunately, you can prevent strangers
from adding yourself by turning off all switches in “Who can add you as a friend” in your privacy settings. Leave the “Friends of Friends” option enabled if you trust your friends’ choice of friends. It’s so simple.
Disable messages from strangers
Also, consider disabling the “Allow direct messages from server members” setting, especially if you don’t know everyone on the servers you frequent. Disabling server member messages will also prevent unauthorized bots from spamming you with malicious links.
If someone needs to private message you, you can always add them as a friend (as long as you trust them).
Make good use of that lock button
Is someone a nuisance or endangering you in a public Discord? Click on your username and then on “Block” to prevent them from sending you direct messages and hide your notes. Mobile users should press and hold their username, then tap the three dots on the right side of the screen to access the “Lock” button.
Not the best blocking feature because you always see annoying “x messages blocked” notifications in public chats. Unfortunately, despite literally thousands of threads on the subject, Discord has yet to implement a way to hide these notifications.
Never share personal information publicly
Unless you know someone on Discord in real life, try not to reveal personal details about yourself, such as:
your real name
your actual address
Emails and phone numbers
Social media accounts (please do not connect your Steam, Twitter, Twitch, and other social networks which may contain information that others can use to identify you)
Of course, the point of socializing is to get to know the people you are talking with them. However, these days it’s also a safe way to “get hooked,” especially if you’re sharing your private information on a public server.
Use disposable email for your account
Discord accounts are exchanging in any way, and you don’t want the attacker to access your primary email. They can use it to send you junk and other phishing emails, which can cause significant damage. ProtonMail and Tutanota are a few decent free encrypted email providers that you can use to create a Discord account.
However, please note the following. Even if you’re using a disposable email and hackers can’t get much out of it, they still have all of your chat histories at their fingertips. If you have unknowingly shared personal information anywhere, cybercriminals and stalkers could use it to their advantage.
Also Read : 4 Of The Best Replacements For Facebook Messenger
Create a strong password
Ideally, you don’t want hackers to take over your account. Along with staying vigilant against phishing scams, you’ll want to use a strong password on Discord. Alternate upper and lower case letters and use lots of memorable characters (e.g., %, !#, @, ^) to make it harder to decipher.
Use two-factor authentication
Discord supports a wide variety of two-factor authentication methods (or 2FA for short):
google-authenticator
Author
QR scan using one of the above methods
QR scan adds an extra layer of security if someone gets your login information. Even basic SMS authentication is better than nothing. Preferably, you’ll only use this as a backup method if you lost access to your authenticator app or didn’t download your backup codes as directed.
