If Snapchat is one of your most-used applications, you should take your privacy seriously. Being compatible both with Android and iOS, it is chosen by a great number of users. Snapchat clients all over the globe complain that privacy issues arise with this app quite often.
Such problems are of concern since nobody wants to suffer from hacker attacks and unauthorized access. If you are wondering how to secure Snapchat and protect your photos, the post below provides the most effective tips. Just review the privacy settings and relax as your content will be protected from being accessed by third parties.
Table of Contents
1. Set Up Two-Factor Authentication
The most popular weapon hackers use is Two-Factor Authentication. The first thing a user should do is to get ahead of hackers and activate this feature first.
In such a way, when logging into your account, you will verify that it’s you who accesses a Snapchat account. Along with your Snapchat password, you need to log in with a one-time password sent to your mobile phone. Consequently, you get an extra security level.
So, how to activate a Two-Factor Authentication? In general, it’s easy and fast. Click on the “Settings,” scroll down to “Two-Factor Authentication” and click on it. A new window will open; scroll to the bottom and click on “Continue.” Then, chose one of the verification options, via text or an authentication app. Next, enter a received code.
If you plan to ensure Snapchat security by using an app (not a phone number) as the 2FA option, make sure to keep backup codes or use the authenticator app, with a cloud backup. Otherwise, if you lose your phone, you won’t be able to log in to your account.
2. Create a Difficult Password
First off, your password should be unique. Don’t use the same password for all your accounts. If you do so, all your accounts will be compromised if one of them gets hacked.
That’s why you need to create an 8-character password that doesn’t include personal data, like birthdays, names, phone numbers, etc. It should be a combination of numbers, symbols, capital and lowercase letters.
Except for you, nobody should know it. To create a strong password, you may use a password generator. If you are not sure you remember all passwords, use a password manager.
Plus, don’t forget about protecting your devices from keyloggers, ransomware, spyware and adware. Use one of these Internet security suites to ensure complete safety.
3. Don’t Let People Find You via Your Mobile Number
In Snapchat settings, you can choose whether other users can or cannot find your account via a phone number. In case you seriously care about your Snapchat security, you should deactivate this function. If you use your cell phone number for work or publish it on any web platform, unknown people may find your account and hack it.
4. Turn Off Location Tracking
The next Snapchat feature that may expose your account to risk is location tracking. It allows sharing your location with your friends or contacts on your phone. In such a way, these people know where you currently are. Consequently, they may always track you anywhere. Moreover, they can find your exact location, even the street address.
Fortunately, you can easily solve this problem. Enable “Ghost Mode” and no one will know your location. You may easily post your content without indicating where you are.
If you want to learn how to secure Snapchat by deactivating the location tracking, go to “Settings,” scroll down, find “See My Location” under the “Who Can” tab and click on it. A new window will appear.
Choose “Ghost Mode” and tap on “Continue.” In such a way, you will become invisible to others. You will see other users on your map, but they won’t be able to see you.
However, even if you deactivate this feature, Snapchat can also track your location. To turn off all location data, go to the phone’s settings and scroll down to Snapchat. Tap on “Location” and select “Never Share.”
5. Don’t Let Random People Contact You
Thankfully, Snapchat security features allow you to control those who contact you. It includes different types of contact, like photo snaps, video snaps, text chats and even calls. Thus, to avoid any unpleasant contacts, lock down your account. Otherwise, people may randomly find your phone number or snapcode online and contact you.
Moreover, it is a great way to protect yourself from harassment or cyber-bullying. If your account is closed, nobody can contact you without your permission.
However, you may still let your friends contact you. Head to “Settings,” find “Contact Me” under the “Who Can” heading and choose “My Friends” (a checkmark should appear next to it).
6. Keep Your Info Up-to-Date
Don’t forget to update your data on Snapchat. For example, if you want to recover your account, you need this info to prove that you are a legitimate owner of the account. Make sure your name, email address, date-of-birth and phone number are up-to-date. Thus, if you notice any exclamation marks, update the info right away.
7. Share Your Story Only to Your Friends
If you are an active Snapchat user posting your stories all day long, your viewers approximately know what you did over 24 hours. You may think that images shown for 10 secs are not a big deal, but still, they may cause serious problems.
It’s okay if you send snaps to particular followers; however, the same can’t be said about stories you post to a Story Section. These stories are shown in other users’ feeds according to your settings. In this case, to ensure your Snapchat security, share your stories only with people you communicate with and know in real life.
Of course, celebrities like singers, actors or influencers have millions of followers and keep their stories open for everyone. To stay popular, they should communicate with their followers as much as possible. It’s a part of their job.
Ordinary people like us don’t need an army of fans to watch our stories. It’s enough when only our friends can do that. Moreover, you can generate a custom list of people who can watch your stories.
To control this option, go to “Settings”. Scroll down and find the “Who Can” section and click on “View My Story”. Next, choose “Everyone,” “My Friends” or “Custom” to generate a custom list. To impress your followers with professional-looking snaps, you can contact FixThePhoto photo retouching service.
8. Don’t Share Your Snapcode or Username Online
All users can automatically become your friends on Snapchat by scanning your Snapchat QR code. Thus, if you publish your snapcode or username somewhere on social network platforms, everyone can find your Snapchat account without a hitch. It’s not a problem at all if you are okay with hundreds of unknown people viewing your snaps. However, if you want to have a private account, don’t share this data online.
That is why if you want to protect your account from random users you have never seen before, don’t share a screen of your snapcode online. How can this affect your Snapchat security? Hackers can combine the info they get from all your accounts to find out where you are now or steal your info.
Snapchat is the most popular face swap app and a face filter app so many people post screenshots of their Snapchat stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other social networks. Of course, this screenshot will contain your username and it won’t be a problem to find you on Snapchat.
9. Update the App
When the app asks to update it, don’t ignore this message! By updating it, you can improve Snapchat security. Developers often fix the issues that might allow hackers to access your private content.
Snapchat was released in 2011, and it has suffered lots of cyberattacks since then. Of course, today, developers do their best to ensure its security, but it doesn’t mean that it is inaccessible for hackers.
10. Remove Yourself from “Quick Add”
To ensure Snapchat security, you should hide from the “Quick Add” list. It allows you to protect your data. The point is that if this option is active, you will show up in the “Quick Add” section of your friends’ friends.
The same is with a Facebook “Suggestions” option. This is the way random people might see your account and add you to friends even if they didn’t plan to do that.
Consequently, if you want to deactivate this feature, go to “Settings”. Find “See Me” in “Quick Add” and turn it off.
11. Stop Sharing Usage Data
Snapchat analyses layers of your data and knows about you more than you can imagine. You use the app, and it remembers what you look for and what search words you use. Then, it shows targeted ads depending on your activity in the app. These features are activated by default.
However, you may deactivate this option to enhance Snapchat security. When you do this, the app will not collect info about you. Find “Ad Preferences” and click on it.
You will see Snapchat advertising settings. Deactivate “Audience-Based” and “Activity-Based”. This way you will disable targeting based on advertisers’ data and your activity in Snapchat.
12. Watch Out for Screenshot Notifications
Snapchat developers provide their users with a very useful feature. When you send a snap to your friend, they might take a screen to prolong a viewing time, and you will immediately get a message ‒ “[Username] took a screenshot!” Consequently, you will see what other users do with your snaps and draw conclusions.
It seems like not a big deal but still, it might cause problems. The thing is that you don’t know what your friend is going to do with a screenshot. They might show it to other people or share it somewhere on the net.
You shouldn’t worry about such screenshot notifications in case you send snaps to people you trust, like your nearest and dearest. Nevertheless, this feature is very important since it allows you to understand how your snaps are used.
If someone takes a screenshot, Snapchat notifies you within the application. You may also enable Snapchat notifications by configuring the settings of your device and get instant phone notifications.
13. Block Accounts You Don’t Know
Even if you turn off a “Quick Add” option, sometimes you will see friend-requests from unknown people. Such things are not safe, you know. If you add such people to your friends, they will see all your Snapchat activities, like stories, etc.
In case you take your Snapchat security seriously, you should decline friend requests from people you don’t know. Just tap “Ignore” when a notification appears.
If some annoying users constantly send requests after you ignore them, you may block them. Plus, you may report harassment, bullying or any other abuse on Snapchat.
If you are determined to block someone, choose a “Ghost” icon to open your profile tab. Then, you will see “Added Me.” Find a user, tap on the “Cog” icon and choose “Block.”
14. Hide Important Snaps
To ensure your Snapchat security, you should use all the features of the app. You might store some photographs and videos in “Memories.” If you want nobody to see them, move them to “My Eyes Only”. Here, you have to create a password and then enter it to view the content. In such a way, you will protect your images and videos and hide them from prying eyes.
A password that you create for “My Eyes Only” should not be the same that you use for Snapchat. If you forget it, Snapchat support will not help you restore it. Thus, you will lose access to this content.
The only way out is to change a password. You can create a new code and continue using “My Eyes Only.” However, your private snaps will be lost forever.
If you want to access “My Eyes Only,” swipe up from the camera screen to open Memories. Next, swipe left to “My Eyes Only” and enter a password.
15. Post Carefully
Finally, the last rule we want you to follow is to always think of what you post. Your Snapchat security mainly depends on what you do in the app and how you use it. When using Snapchat or any other social network, remember not to send content you want to keep private. This way you will protect your data.
This rule is particularly applicable to Snapchat. Snaps indeed vanish after some time. However, the Internet is flooded with applications that allow other people to save your snaps. Consequently, anyone can save your snaps without you being aware of it.
Moreover, you should also think about other people’s privacy. For example, don’t send snaps with other people even if you have added a doodle to hide a face or username. These are after-effects and people might easily remove them by using special applications. It’s up to you what to share so do it responsibly.
