Here's how Telegram protects your phone number from strangers:
1. Granular "Phone Number" Privacy Settings:
This is the primary line of defense. Telegram gives you direct control over who can see your phone number. You can find these settings in:Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number
"Who can see my phone number?"
Nobody (Recommended for maximum privacy): If you telegram number database select this, your phone number will be completely hidden from everyone, even those in your own contact list. This is the strongest setting for privacy from strangers.
My Contacts: Only people whose phone numbers you have saved in your device's address book (and who also use Telegram) will be able to see your phone number on your profile. Strangers cannot see it.
Everybody (Not recommended for privacy): If you choose this, anyone who views your Telegram profile will see your phone number. This option essentially makes your number public on Telegram.
"Who can find me by my number?" (This option appears if you set "Who can see my phone number?" to "Nobody"):
My Contacts (Recommended for strong privacy): This means that if a stranger gets your phone number elsewhere (e.g., from a data breach, shared by a mutual friend, etc.), they cannot use that number to find your Telegram profile. Only people who already have your number saved in their phone's contact list can use it to find you on Telegram.
Everybody: If you select this, anyone who has your phone number (even if they're not in your contacts) can type it into Telegram's search bar and find your profile. This increases your discoverability by strangers.