Making it as a Twitch streamer is a dream for many kids these days. Others like to do it just for fun. Whatever the case, it's crucial to take security very seriously when exposing yourself to a worldwide audience.

From hackers to physical safety threats, there are many ways a Twitch stream can turn dangerous. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about staying safe on Twitch.

Protect your account

Like any online account, your Twitch account is vulnerable to attacks. You might think your Twitch account isn't worth hacking into, but hackers don't think twice about their victims. If they see a vulnerability, they will try to exploit it. To avoid that, do your best to protect your account with a strong password and two-factor authentication.

Strong passwords are long and hard to guess. They should include special characters and numbers. Even if a hacker somehow steals your passwords with 2FA enabled, they won't be able to access your account. 

Avoid clicking on links from the chat

Twitch chats can be fun or toxic, depending on who you're talking to. But, they can also be dangerous. Hackers can easily spam harmful links in the chat, hoping that people will click on them and infect their devices.

You probably wouldn’t want to turn off the chat completely while streaming, as it's a significant part of the experience. However, you should limit some of the functions for users. You should require email and phone verification before someone can chat on your channel. You can also limit the ability to post links to only mods and VIPs.

Don't share personal information

What's great about Twitch is that you can remain completely anonymous, even as a streamer. Some of the most popular streamers on the platform hide behind aliases and either mask or don't show their faces.

Choose a catchy username without including your real first or last name. Never speak about the place you live, or disclose any other personal information. You never know who's watching your stream. People can be very bold with pranking others while hiding behind a computer screen.

You should also avoid promoting your Twitch channel with your personal social media accounts. If you want to promote through social channels, create separate accounts. It's never a good idea for strangers to be able to see what you do and where you are each time you post.

Use a VPN

Last but not least, building solid online habits is important to prevent any of your accounts from getting exposed. Using a VPN is a great way to bolster your defenses. A VPN will encrypt all data communication between your device and the internet. This will make it impossible for someone to track your actions, as the VPN will hide your IP address.

Conclusion

Being a Twitch streamer is exciting and fulfilling. You get to do what you love while sharing it with the rest of the world. But, there are certain security risks associated with streaming that you should stay away from.