“If the action ain’t on Twitter or Telegram, it’s probably on Discord.” — Every Degen Ever
Discord has become the go-to platform for large communities seeking a digital hub. In fact, numerous businesses have practically launched on Discord, making it a popular destination for creators to interact with their audience and foster a vibrant community.
While Discord offers a rich environment for collaboration and communication, it's crucial to prioritize security to safeguard against potential threats. One essential step towards enhancing security is enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) across all platforms.
By implementing MFA, you add an extra layer of protection to your account, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access. Here's a step-by-step guide on setting up MFA. Now, here are some common scam tactics employed by malicious actors on Discord.
Common Scam Tactics
Cloning Admin Names
Scammers may mimic the names or handles of moderators to deceive users. Ensure you verify the authenticity of admins through official channels.
Promotional Links
Exercise caution when interacting with links, especially those sent via direct messages (DMs). Verify links by pasting them into a private window to avoid potential scams.
Giveaway Scams
Exercise skepticism towards unsolicited messages claiming you've won a giveaway. If it seems too good to be true, it likely is.
Trading Groups
Exercise caution when encountering individuals promoting trading courses or investment opportunities. Always conduct thorough research before engaging.
Staying Safe
Adopting strategies to mitigate the risk of scams is essential for maintaining a safe environment on Discord. As mentioned before, it is imperative to enable MFA not only on Discord, but also across all platforms.
Restrict DMs
It is a good idea to restrict DMs from unknown users (even in servers where it's not explicitly required), and to promptly report suspicious activities or users to the community moderators.
Cold Accounts
Another popular practice is to utilize "cold accounts". These are accounts exclusively for administrative tasks within Discord servers.
Role Hierarchies
Establishing clear role hierarchies with varying levels of permissions to compartmentalize access to sensitive information also helps.
Leveraging Discord’s Native Features
Discord have several server protection features built into the application. A good place to start is by setting verification levels, enforcing MFA and enabling raid protection measures.
Using Helpful Bots
Beyond the above, there are several third-party bots that you can use to safeguard your server, no matter the size. A few examples are Hashbot, Wick, Captcha Bot, Dyno, and Goodknight. You can learn more about them here.
Conclusion
Discord's versatility and accessibility make it an invaluable tool for fostering communities and collaboration. By prioritizing security measures and remaining vigilant against potential threats, users can enjoy a safe and enriching experience on the platform, and participate in communities without any worries!
Once you have secured your Discord server, it's a good idea to secure your Telegram groups too. Here's a short guide to increase the security of Telegram groups.