Discord is a useful communication app that is particularly popular among gamers. It is also increasingly gaining attention among remote workers and organizations.

It offers plenty of features for both professional and casual conversations. You get the ability to add bots, webhooks, select your preferred server for free, chat moderation tools, live-streaming, and numerous other features. Hence, it is becoming an obvious choice for many users as a collaboration platform.

But as the number of users increases, malicious attackers also consider it the perfect vessel to spread malware. Here are the most common malware threats on Discord that you need to watch out, along with tips on how to stay safe on Discord.

Common Malware Threats on Discord

You probably don't need to know the nitty-gritty specifics of each malware type if you're just a member in Discord servers. But if you're a server admin or moderator, it could be useful to know what you should be looking out for to keep your Discord servers safe.

Here are some common threats that can spread through Discord, along with links to our explanations of them:

If you are curious to know the technical details on what goes behind spreading malware in Discord, you can refer to a report published in 2021 by the Cisco threat intelligence team.

1. Use a Strong Password

The first step to ensure that your account does not get easily compromised is to have a strong password.

Ideally, you need to form a strong password that is alphanumeric (including both uppercase and lowercase letters) while also incorporating special characters (%,#,@,*,^,$,!,%). It should also be at least 12 characters long.

If you do not have a variety of characters in your password, or if it's not long enough, then it'll be a weak password that's easy to crack.

For instance, makeuseof1 is an alphanumeric combination of 10 characters. It's weak because it doesn't have any special characters or uppercase characters, and it's not long enough.

On the other hand, a password like MakeOfUse!64344% is a strong password. This example is fairly readable, which makes it easier to remember. The more complex you make it, the stronger the password.

You can use password strength checker tools to validate the strength of your passwords.

You may also want to use a password manager to manage passwords. They can generate strong passwords for you, and they can auto-fill password fields so you won't need to memorize them.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

discord 2fa

We always recommend enabling two-factor authentication for any online services you're using—if two-factor authentication is available. Fortunately, Discord supports 2FA.

No matter how strong your password is, it can be broken or leaked in data breaches. Without 2FA, someone can gain access to your account and perform shady activities without you knowing it.

Even if you are not an admin or moderator for a Discord server, if your account is compromised, it puts other users at risk where the attacker may send malicious links or files.

You can utilize some of the best 2FA authenticator apps for the task.

discord malicious user

You may notice links shared in public text channels or direct messages. Before you click, make sure that you know the user and trust them.

And even if you do trust them, make sure you scan any files you download using a good antivirus software or any free online virus scanners. You never know if their account was compromised by malware or hackers.

Related: Best Free Online Virus Scan and Removal Sites

Similarly, you should never click on Discord CDN links outside Discord itself. When files are uploaded to Discord, they're publicly accessible via a Discord CDN link that's meant to be an easy way to share files.

But malicious attackers use that same method to upload malware and deceive users into clicking their harmless-looking links. For example:

        https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/305257444068818945/829716909150437417/Squad_Screenshot.exe
    

4. Avoid Free Discord Nitro Codes

Discord Nitro is a premium subscription to get access to unlock high-quality video quality settings, bigger upload limits for file-sharing, and several other features.

Malicious attackers might send you innocent messages or links claiming that you can get access to free Discord Nitro codes.

While Discord does offer free Nitro subscriptions as a bundled perk with Xbox Game Pass for PC and other such packages, those are only made available via official channels and are usually time-limited offers.

99% of the time, anyone who promises free Discord Nitro codes for nothing in exchange is trying to sucker you into a trap.

5. Use Discord Moderation Bots

This tip is for admins and moderators of Discord servers.

No matter how careful you are, you can make your servers even safer by proactively moderating and removing malicious users, messages, and links. This greatly reduces the risk of your users getting affected by malware.

We've covered some of the best Discord bots for your server, some of which are designed to better organize your server and enhance overall security.

6. Mark Your Important Channels Private

discord private channel

If you are an admin or a moderator, you should really set certain channels to private. This ensures that only members with proper permissions can view and/or end messages.

This is mainly a risk on large public servers, as anyone could join and start spreading shady links and malicious files if channels are public to all.

If you're only a user and think certain channels should be marked private, it never hurts to ask an admin or moderator to do it to ensure safe communication.

7. Never Share Sensitive Personal Information

One of the most important tips for better account security is to remove your phone number from your Discord account.

While some Discord servers require users to have a verified phone number, malicious users can spoof your phone number with a SIM card swapping scam and use it as a backup one-time-password method to gain access to your account.

Phone numbers aside, you should never give away any sensitive personal information that could identify who you are in real life—especially if a bot or user asks you for it directly.

If you're going to share anything, make sure you trust that bot or user 100% before you do. Assume that any details you share WILL eventually become public. If you aren't comfortable with that, then don't share it.

Start Using Discord Safely With These Tips

Public Discord servers are risky. Strangers can hop on and spread malicious links and files to anyone. Be careful!

Ignore any direct messages you get from users as soon as you join a new server. The only exceptions are welcome messages from trusted bots with useful information.

Discord tries to automatically remove any malware when spotted, but as a user, you should always heed these security tips to ensure a safe Discord experience.