Snapchat is another example of a specialized messaging app. Nowadays, this is also quite popular among the younger generation using platforms like WhatsApp, Viber, IMO, Instagram, and Facebook. It is mostly among young people aged 13 to 27 years. In 2017, Snapchat reported that it had over 200 million accounts and 100 million daily active users. Eight years later, Snapchat has a large user base and is much more popular than its immediate rivals. Being renowned might make it tough to live freely at times. This is why Snapchat users have been subjected to cyberattacks. You may learn how to avoid them by reading this post.
Snapchat is valued at more than 15 billion dollars and contains features such as selfies, humorous images, videos, and messaging.
Why is Snapchat’s privacy and security so critical?
Snapchat accounts that are popular may be hacked. If you connect to the internet through public Wi-Fi, you must pay more attention to your social media accounts. This is because hackers may steal your data without informing you through open Wi-Fi connections. Thus, if you use a VPN to connect to the internet, you will be protected.
The following are a few actions to take to safeguard your Snapchat account.
- By default, only friends
By default, your account’s preferences are set to “Friends Only.” This is the first step in protecting your privacy, and only you will be able to send and receive snaps from pals. However, if you pick any of the options, anyone may see and transmit your photos. As a result, you are secure with the friends-only option.
- Utilize a robust password
According to cybersecurity experts, you should use a unique, strong, single-use password for each of your accounts. This is applicable not just to Snapchat, but to any other account. If you use a basic password, it may be cracked in milliseconds by hackers.
- Avoid displaying your username or snap code to outsiders.
Many people display their user names across many social media platforms, such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Viber, IMO, and LINE, to make it simple for their loved ones to discover them. Additionally, your loved ones and those individuals who do not want to know may see your private information.
Not only that, but many also display their snap code in this manner. As a result, it is more likely that you will be attacked by hackers. Because a skilled cyber attacker may do significant damage with a tiny amount of data exposure. As a result, you must safeguard your privacy.
- Money transfer using Snapchat
It’s rather simple if you can conduct all of your company’s operations using a user-friendly app like Snapchat. You may transfer money to your pals using Snapchat’s Snapcash feature. Open Snapchat’s Settings panel and add a card to the Snapcash page; at the time of writing, only Visa or MasterCard cards may be added. Once you’ve entered your payment information, you may pay pals over chat by preceding a text number with a dollar symbol. Bear in mind that if your buddy does not accept payment within 24 hours, the funds will be restored to your account, ensuring that your money never vanishes.
However, if you transfer money using Visa or MasterCard over public Wi-Fi, you must exercise more caution since the aforementioned hackers might strike at any moment and in any location. As a result, it is critical to utilize the finest and most secure VPN service available, such as NordVPN, which has no login activity.
- Authentication with two factors
It is critical to enable this element for all of your social media accounts, since it significantly improves the security of all of your social media accounts. After enabling this, you will receive a message with a verification number each time you log into Snapchat. As a result, it is quite secure, although others believe it is pointless.
- Defend your account against unauthorized access
Over 200,000 Snapchat accounts were leaked from iCloud in 2014 as a result of a third-party website called “snap saved”.
As a result, avoid disclosing account information to third-party websites such as “snap saved” and others.
- Location mode activated
This newly introduced function allows you to share your location with your friends. As a result, your pals will be able to pinpoint your whereabouts. They can literally watch you from this vantage point.
If you do not want to reveal your location, you may disable it by activating the ghost mode, which denies the login location. As a result, no one can see your whereabouts.
- Turn off quick add
If you’re worried about privacy, you may safeguard your account by concealing the fast add option. Through Snapchat’s fast-add function, your friends’ friends and phone contacts will be unable to locate you.
As a result, all of your friends’ friends would be unfamiliar with you and would lack your phone number. As a result, rather than a rapid addition, it is preferable to add recognized friends directly.
- Put an end to data sharing
Even if you’re in ghost mode, not only can your pals see your position, but the Snapchat association can as well. As a result, connect to the internet using NordVPN as your VPN partner. Then, no one will be able to track your true IP address.
- Modify contact information
You may choose who you want to contact. If you just want to communicate with your friends or friends of friends, you may choose that option under “WHO CAN…Contact Me.” As a result, unknown individuals cannot contact you.
Conclusion
Above, we highlighted 10 major considerations to consider while using Snapchat. You should now understand the critical nature of having a VPN while using Snapchat. As a result, we propose NordVPN as the optimal VPN service for you.