When you add a bot to your Telegram group, Telegram asks which permissions to grant. It's natural to hesitate — you're handing control of your community to code you didn't write.
This guide explains what each permission actually allows, why security bots like BeefyGuard need specific ones, and how to make informed decisions.
How Telegram bot permissions work
Bots can only do what you explicitly allow. When you promote a bot to admin, you choose from a list of capabilities:
| Permission | What it allows | |------------|---------------| | Change group info | Edit name, photo, description | | Delete messages | Remove any message in the group | | Ban users | Kick or permanently ban members | | Invite users via link | Create and manage invite links | | Pin messages | Pin/unpin messages for all to see | | Manage video chats | Start and manage video calls | | Remain anonymous | Post as the group, not as the bot | | Add new admins | Promote other users to admin |
A bot with no permissions can read public messages but can't act on the group. Each permission you enable expands what it can do.
Why security bots need admin permissions
A security bot that can't take action isn't protecting anything. Here's why each relevant permission matters:
Delete messages
What it does: Allows the bot to remove any message from the chat.
Why a security bot needs it:
- Delete scam links before members click
- Remove spam floods instantly
- Clear impersonator messages that slipped through
Without this, the bot can only flag messages — you'll have to delete them manually, and scammers get a time window.
Ban users
What it does: Allows the bot to kick or permanently ban members.
Why a security bot needs it:
- Immediately ban detected impersonators
- Remove raiders and spam accounts
- Enforce community rules without waiting for a mod
This is the most important permission for security. Without banning ability, the bot can only alert you while the scammer continues operating.
Invite users via link
What it does: Allows the bot to create and manage invite links.
Why a security bot might use it:
- Track which invite link a user joined from
- Help identify raid sources
- Provide a secure, tracked onboarding flow
This permission is optional for basic security but useful for advanced tracking.
Pin messages
What it does: Allows the bot to pin and unpin messages.
Why a security bot might use it:
- Pin security warnings or announcements
- Auto-pin important alerts for visibility
Optional for security bots; primarily useful if the bot manages announcements.
Permissions security bots should NOT need
Be wary if a bot requests these:
Change group info
Unless the bot explicitly manages your group's name or photo, this isn't required. A security bot focused on moderation doesn't need to edit your branding.
Add new admins
No security bot should promote users to admin. This permission is extremely powerful and rarely legitimate for automation.
Manage video chats
Irrelevant to text-based security. Skip it.
If a bot requests permissions far beyond its stated purpose, question why.
How to grant permissions safely
Step 1: Add the bot to your group
Use the bot's official link (e.g., @beefyguard_bot). Don't trust links sent by random users.
Step 2: Promote to admin
- Go to group settings → Administrators
- Select "Add Admin" and choose the bot
- Toggle only the permissions you're comfortable with
Step 3: Start minimal, expand if needed
You can always add permissions later. Grant the minimum required for core functionality, then enable more as you confirm the bot works as expected.
Step 4: Position the bot in admin hierarchy
Telegram processes admin actions by hierarchy. Make sure the bot is above regular members but not necessarily above human admins. The bot should be able to ban members, but you should be able to control the bot.
Common concerns and answers
"Can the bot read my DMs?"
No. Bots only see messages in groups they're added to, and only if they have the right settings. They cannot access private conversations unless you explicitly start a DM with the bot.
"Can the bot leak my member list?"
Bots can see members, but reputable bots don't export or share this data. Check the bot's privacy policy and documentation. BeefyGuard's member data is used only for detection and is not shared externally.
"What if the bot bans the wrong person?"
Legitimate security bots let you configure sensitivity and review actions. With BeefyGuard, you can:
- Set detection to alert-only during testing
- Review ban logs in the dashboard
- Unban false positives with a command or via Telegram's native tools
"What if the bot gets compromised?"
This is a real concern with any third-party tool. Mitigations:
- Use bots from established providers with public documentation
- Don't grant "Add new admins" permission
- Monitor bot activity via logs
- Have a human admin ready to remove the bot if needed
Recommended permission set for BeefyGuard
For full security functionality, grant BeefyGuard:
| Permission | Required | |------------|----------| | Delete messages | Yes | | Ban users | Yes | | Invite users via link | Optional (for tracking) | | Pin messages | Optional (for announcements) | | Change group info | No | | Add new admins | No |
This gives the bot what it needs to protect your community without unnecessary access.
Summary
Bot permissions exist to protect you. A security bot needs delete and ban permissions to act on threats; without them, it's just a notification service. Grant only what's necessary, start minimal, and expand based on trust.
Review what you've granted:
- Open group settings → Administrators
- Select the bot
- Confirm permissions match your intent
Learn more
See BeefyGuard features for what the bot does with these permissions, or read the setup guide to get started.