diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 9a12718..cc590d5 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -4,13 +4,20 @@ ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
 # Composio API key for Tool Router
 COMPOSIO_API_KEY=ak_...
 
+# HTTP Server Security (optional but recommended for production)
+# Set a random token to protect the /qr endpoint from unauthorized access
+# Example: QR_AUTH_TOKEN=$(openssl rand -hex 32)
+QR_AUTH_TOKEN=
+
 # WhatsApp
 WHATSAPP_ALLOWED_DMS=+1234567890
 WHATSAPP_ALLOWED_GROUPS=*
 
 # Telegram
 TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=your-bot-token
-TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_DMS=*
+# IMPORTANT: Default is restrictive. Add your Telegram user ID explicitly.
+# Get your ID by messaging @userinfobot on Telegram.
+TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_DMS=
 
 # Signal
 SIGNAL_PHONE_NUMBER=+1234567890
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c4ad12e..09f5833 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -313,7 +313,25 @@ All settings live in `config.js`. Edit directly or use the setup wizard.
 
 ### Security
 
-Each platform has an allowlist for DMs and groups. Set to `['*']` to allow all, or list specific IDs.
+#### QR Endpoint Protection (Production)
+
+The `/qr` endpoint provides access to WhatsApp pairing. **Set `QR_AUTH_TOKEN` in production** to prevent unauthorized access:
+
+```bash
+# Generate a random token
+export QR_AUTH_TOKEN=$(openssl rand -hex 32)
+
+# Add to .env
+echo "QR_AUTH_TOKEN=${QR_AUTH_TOKEN}" >> .env
+```
+
+When set, the QR code URL becomes: `http://your-ip:4096/qr?token=YOUR_TOKEN`
+
+**⚠️ Without a token, anyone who can reach your server can pair their WhatsApp to your assistant.**
+
+#### DM Allowlists
+
+Each platform has an allowlist for DMs and groups. **Default is restrictive** - add your IDs explicitly.
 
 ```javascript
 whatsapp: {
@@ -323,8 +341,12 @@ whatsapp: {
 }
 ```
 
+For Telegram, get your user ID from [@userinfobot](https://t.me/userinfobot).
+
 Messages from unrecognized senders are silently dropped.
 
+**⚠️ Never use `['*']` for `allowedDMs` on public servers - anyone could send commands to your assistant.**
+
 ---
 
 ## Messaging Platforms
diff --git a/gateway.js b/gateway.js
index 5175399..ba2bd92 100644
--- a/gateway.js
+++ b/gateway.js
@@ -344,9 +344,21 @@ class Gateway {
 
   startHttpServer() {
     const port = process.env.PORT || 4096
+    const qrAuthToken = process.env.QR_AUTH_TOKEN
 
     this.httpServer = http.createServer(async (req, res) => {
-      if (req.url === '/qr') {
+      if (req.url === '/qr' || req.url.startsWith('/qr?')) {
+        // Optional token authentication for QR endpoint
+        if (qrAuthToken) {
+          const url = new URL(req.url, `http://localhost:${port}`)
+          const providedToken = url.searchParams.get('token')
+          if (providedToken !== qrAuthToken) {
+            res.writeHead(401, { 'Content-Type': 'text/plain' })
+            res.end('Unauthorized: Invalid or missing QR_AUTH_TOKEN')
+            return
+          }
+        }
+
         const wa = this.adapters.get('whatsapp')
         if (!wa || !wa.latestQr) {
           res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'text/html' })
@@ -376,7 +388,14 @@ class Gateway {
     })
 
     this.httpServer.listen(port, () => {
-      console.log(`[HTTP] Listening on port ${port} (QR code at /qr)`)
+      if (qrAuthToken) {
+        console.log(`[HTTP] Listening on port ${port}`)
+        console.log(`[HTTP] QR code at /qr?token=${qrAuthToken}`)
+        console.log(`[HTTP] ⚠️  Keep this URL private - it grants WhatsApp access`)
+      } else {
+        console.log(`[HTTP] Listening on port ${port} (QR code at /qr)`)
+        console.log(`[HTTP] ⚠️  QR endpoint is UNAUTHENTICATED. Set QR_AUTH_TOKEN in .env for production`)
+      }
     })
   }
 
diff --git a/setup.sh b/setup.sh
index 2a456c5..0f96b88 100755
--- a/setup.sh
+++ b/setup.sh
@@ -20,13 +20,20 @@ if [ ! -f .env ]; then
   read -rp "WhatsApp allowed DMs (phone numbers, comma-separated, or * for all): " WA_DMS
   read -rp "Telegram bot token (leave blank to skip): " TG_TOKEN
 
+  # Generate random QR auth token for production security
+  QR_TOKEN=$(openssl rand -hex 16 2>/dev/null || echo "")
+
   sed -i "s|ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=.*|ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=${ANTHROPIC_KEY}|" .env
   sed -i "s|COMPOSIO_API_KEY=.*|COMPOSIO_API_KEY=${COMPOSIO_KEY}|" .env
   sed -i "s|WHATSAPP_ALLOWED_DMS=.*|WHATSAPP_ALLOWED_DMS=${WA_DMS}|" .env
+  if [ -n "$QR_TOKEN" ]; then
+    sed -i "s|QR_AUTH_TOKEN=.*|QR_AUTH_TOKEN=${QR_TOKEN}|" .env
+  fi
 
   if [ -n "$TG_TOKEN" ]; then
+    read -rp "Telegram allowed DMs (Telegram user IDs, comma-separated, or * for all - get your ID from @userinfobot): " TG_DMS
     sed -i "s|TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=.*|TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=${TG_TOKEN}|" .env
-    sed -i "s|TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_DMS=.*|TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_DMS=*|" .env
+    sed -i "s|TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_DMS=.*|TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_DMS=${TG_DMS}|" .env
   fi
 
   echo ""
@@ -38,6 +45,12 @@ docker compose up -d --build
 
 echo ""
 echo "=== Running ==="
-echo "WhatsApp QR: http://$(hostname -I | awk '{print $1}'):4096/qr"
-echo "Status:      http://$(hostname -I | awk '{print $1}'):4096/"
+HOST_IP=$(hostname -I | awk '{print $1}')
+if [ -n "$QR_TOKEN" ]; then
+  echo "WhatsApp QR: http://${HOST_IP}:4096/qr?token=${QR_TOKEN}"
+  echo "⚠️  Keep this URL private - it grants WhatsApp access to your assistant"
+else
+  echo "WhatsApp QR: http://${HOST_IP}:4096/qr"
+fi
+echo "Status:      http://${HOST_IP}:4096/"
 echo "Logs:        docker compose logs -f"