Twitter is a great place to get up-to-the-minute news, find thoughts posted live by public figures, and more. But the app reveals more than you may think. 

If you create a Twitter account, the default settings make your account public. If you'd like to make it more private, you'll need to protect your tweets so only the people you give permission to follow you are able to view them.  If your account is public, know that hackers can craft an attack from your social media profile.    

Follow the steps below to adjust your Twitter privacy settings today to make your account more secure.   

Change your Twitter Privacy settings 

How to make your Twitter account private 

Twitter has put up fact checks on government tweets in recent weeks. ((AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File))

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If you already have a Twitter account set up, log in on your phone or a browser and follow these steps to make sure your tweets are protected. 

Twitter settings for app 

If you're using a smartphone, follow these steps:

• Open your Twitter application
• Click your profile picture on the top left, which will reveal a list of menu options
• Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy 
• Click Privacy and safety
• Tap the first option, Audience and tagging, which is where you want to head to protect tweets
• Toggle this option on so only the people you allow to follow you can see your tweets

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• Once your Tweets are protected, you'll have to accept any follow requests to let anyone new see what you post. Here's how to do that
• Open your Twitter application if it's not already
• Click your profile picture on the top left, which will reveal a list of menu options
• Scroll down until you see  Follower requests
• Any follower requests will be displayed here, along with a checkmark and an X - so you can confirm or deny their request to follow you

Twitter settings for desktop 

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If you're using a computer or browser to access Twitter, follow these steps: 

• Head to twitter.com and login to your account
• Click the More button, located on the left-hand side of the page

Twitter target audience (CyberGuy.com)

• Tap Settings and privacy to reveal additional options
• Then click Settings and privacy again
• Now on the main section of the site, you'll want to click Audience and tagging

Twitter target audience (CyberGuy.com)

• Under the Audience and tagging page, you'll be able to select the option to Protect your tweets
• Make sure the check box next to Protect your tweets is checked, and if it's not, check it to make sure your account is private

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Twitter's audience response in Twtter (CyberGuy.com)

• Once your Tweets are protected, you'll have to accept any follow requests to let anyone new see what you post. Here's how to do that via Twitter for desktop
• Head to twitter.com and login to your account
• Click the More button, located on the left-hand side of the page
• Tap Follower requests to check if anyone new has requested to follow your page (it will also display a number if you do have requests).

Followers requests on Twitter (CyberGuy.com)

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You'll now be able to decline or accept any new followers.

If you're on other social media platforms, be sure to change your privacy settings there, too. You can see how to tweak private settings for Facebook, Google, Alexa, TikTok, Instagram, iPhone and Android by searching the word ‘privacy’ at CyberGuy.com.