diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index fadba3b..f52eff3 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -17,14 +17,25 @@
 import time
 
 
+import os
+import sys
+import configparser
+import logging
+
+# Load sensitive settings from environment variables
 def load_settings() -> None:
     global settings
-    if not os.path.exists('bot_settings.ini'):
-        sys.exit('FAILED TO FIND SETTING FILE!')
-    else:
-        config = configparser.ConfigParser()
-        config.read('bot_settings.ini')
-        settings = config['BOT']
+    required_env_vars = ['TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN', 'INSTAGRAM_USERNAME', 'INSTAGRAM_PASSWORD', 'OWNER_ID']
+    for var in required_env_vars:
+        if var not in os.environ:
+            sys.exit(f'MISSING ENVIRONMENT VARIABLE: {var}!')
+
+    settings = {
+        'telegram_bot_token': os.getenv('TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN'),
+        'instagram_username': os.getenv('INSTAGRAM_USERNAME'),
+        'instagram_password': os.getenv('INSTAGRAM_PASSWORD'),
+        'owner_id': os.getenv('OWNER_ID')
+    }
 
 
 def initiate_db() -> None: