Getting your Instagram account hacked can certainly be a scary situation, especially if your income depends on it to make sales and generate leads.
So what can you do to protect your Instagram account from being hacked?
Well, the best defense is a strong offence! We’re sharing 4 ways to keep your account secure — as well as what to do if your Instagram account gets hacked.
How to Protect Your Instagram Account From HackersPick a Strong Password
Turn on Two-Factor Authentication
Make Sure Your Email Account Is Secure
Revoke Access to Suspicious Third-Party Apps
As more users create Instagram’s accounts, more hacking and phishing attempts take place.
And the number one culprit? A weak password.
According to Victor Gevers, a security researcher at the GDI Foundation, you should use auto-generated password and a password manager for further protection.
“You don’t want the hassle of trying to remember it yourself,” explains Gevers. “There are password managers which allow you access to your passwords on a desktop computer, mobile phone, and even when you are not connected to the Internet.”
It’s also a good idea to use a unique password for each of your accounts, as this makes it harder for hackers to gain access to all of your information.
Once you’ve landed on a potential password, plug it into How Secure Is My Password for a final check — this will tell you if your password is strong enough to withstand a hacking attempt.
TIP: Always vet the legitimacy of emails you receive (the sender’s name, email address, URL they link to) and never give your password to someone you don’t know or trust to protect yourself from potential phishing attacks.
Step #2: Turn on Two-Factor AuthenticationTwo-factor authentication adds an additional layer of defense against hackers.
How does it work? It’s a multi-step process that requires users to verify their identity via a security code.
This way, if you log into Instagram from an unrecognized device, you’ll be prompted to enter the code and confirm it’s you.
To turn on two-factor authentication in Instagram, head to your Settings and tap “Two-Factor Authentication.”
Tap “Get Started”, and you’ll have two options to choose from: “Authentication App (recommended)” and “Text Message”.
Option #1: Authentication App
The “Authentication App (recommended)” option is a third-party authentication app.
If you already have an authentication app installed, Instagram will automatically find the app and send a code to it. You’ll need to retrieve the code, enter it on Instagram, and two-factor authentication will turn on.
If you don’t have an authentication app, Instagram will recommend one that you can download before completing the process.
Option #2: Text Message
If your account doesn’t have a confirmed phone number, you’ll be asked to enter one. Once you’ve entered your phone number, tap the “Next” button.
Now when you log into your Instagram account from an unknown device, you’ll be prompted to enter a security code that you receive by SMS.
TIP: Watch out for suspicious Instagram DMs and never share your personal details. Instagram recently shared a warning through the @creators account about a rise in Instagram phishing attempts.
Step #3: Make Sure Your Email Account Is SecureView this post on Instagram
A post shared by Later: Visual Social Marketing (@latermedia)
Just think about it, your Instagram account — and many others! — is linked to your email account. If someone has access to one, they have access to all. Scary stuff.
In a recent survey, 22% of Internet users say their online accounts have been hacked at least once, while 14% reported they were hacked more than once.
Source: Statista
So with this in mind, it’s a good idea to secure your email with two-factor authentication or email encryption. These easy deterrents can go a long way to protect your Instagram account from the hands of hackers.
Step #4: Revoke Access to Suspicious Third-Party AppsIt’s common to use Instagram as an authorized account to sign in to third-party apps like dating services, games, and photo editing tools.
But did you know that even if you haven’t used said third-party apps in weeks, months, or even years, they may have access to your social media profile and account information?
And if their database is targeted, your details are up for grabs. Which is why Instagram suggests to “think before you authorize a third-party app.”
To manage your third-party apps, open your Instagram profile on your desktop computer, click the settings button, and then click on “Apps and Website”
Here you’ll find a list of apps that you’ve authorized access to.
If you notice any suspicious apps, you can easily click the “Revoke Access” or “View and edit” button.
NOTE: Later is an official member of the Instagram Partner Program. If you have any questions about our privacy policy, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
How to Recover a Hacked Instagram AccountIf you suspect your Instagram account has been hacked or compromised, it’s important to take action as soon as possible. Watch this quick YouTube video or follow the steps below to regain access to your account.
Check Your Email Account for a Message From Instagram
Request a Login Link From Instagram
Request a Security Code or Support from Instagram
If you received an email from Instagram — aka, [email protected] — letting you know that your email address was changed, you may be able to undo this by using the “revert this change” option in that message.
If additional information was also changed (like your password), you should request a login link from Instagram. Here’s how to do it:
On the login screen, tap “Forgot password” (for iOS) or “Get help logging in” (for Android).
You’ll be taken to the “Trouble Logging In?” (iOS) or “Login help” (Android) page.
Then tap “Send Login Link” (iOS) or “Next” (Android) and follow the on-screen instructions.
Enter a secure email address that only you can access. Once you’ve submitted your request, be on the lookout for an email from Instagram with next steps.
Step #3: Request a Security Code or Support from InstagramIf you’re unable to recover your Instagram account by following the above steps, you can report a hacked Instagram account.
Tap the “Help Us Recover Your Account” screen. This time, instead of requesting the security code, select “I can’t access this email or phone number.
”
On the next page, fill in the form with your account details, select “My account was hacked” and click “Request Support.”
Once you submit your request, you should receive an auto-response email from the Security Team at Instagram asking you to help verify your identity. You’ll be asked for one or both of the following:
A photo of yourself holding a paper with a handwritten code Instagram has provided you.
The email address or phone number you signed up with and the type of device you used at the time of sign up (example: iPhone, Android, iPad, other).
For brands and creators on Instagram, keeping your account safe has never been more crucial.
And while there’s no 100% guaranteed way to stop your account from getting hacked, you can make it a whole lot harder for hackers by following these simple steps.
Stay up to date with all the latest Instagram trends and security updates. Sign up to Later’s weekly email newsletter today!
July 13, 2021
Today, we’re launching Security Checkup, a new feature to help people keep their Instagram accounts secure.
Security Checkup will guide people, whose accounts may have been hacked, through the steps needed to secure them. This includes checking login activity, reviewing profile information, confirming the accounts that share login information and updating account recovery contact information such as phone number or email.
Security Checkup is another way that we are working to keep Instagram accounts as secure as we can. But there are several other steps that we recommend everyone also take to make their account even more secure:
That way if something happens to your account, we can reach you. These steps let you recover your account even if your info has been changed by a hacker. For more info visit our Help Center here. 
For more info visit our Help Center here. 
For more info visit our Help Center here. Accounts that impersonate others, use their verification status to hack and target people, or generally conduct spammy behavior with the hopes of misleading people on Instagram break our rules. We are constantly improving our technology to find and stop this behaviour.
We’ve also made significant updates to our Support Inbox, so you can find out the latest information about what’s happening with your reports, or find out if any of your posts are violating our policies. This includes being able to easily see the status of everything you’ve ever reported on Instagram, see what posts of yours may have broken our rules, and how to appeal those decisions. From there you can find much more information on the status of what you’ve reported to us.
We’re continuing to provide more features and tools to improve security on Instagram, please visit help.instagram.com for more resources.
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ru Has anyone encountered the problem of account hacking? Unfortunately, in this case, it is difficult to return the account, and sometimes it is almost impossible. So how do you protect your account from being hacked?
60 190 views
Regulation 1
Link your account to your current mobile phone, email, personal Facebook account.
Regulation 2
Enable two-factor authentication. "Settings" → "Security" → "Two-factor authentication". After enabling this feature, you will receive codes via SMS or the app to confirm actions.
Enabling two-factor authentication on Instagram Yuliya Toloknova
Rule 3
Create a complex password using letters, numbers, and symbols.
Regulation 4
Prevent third party applications from accessing your account. "Settings" → "Security" → "Apps and sites". This tab will display a list of applications associated with the profile.
Disable everything you don't need.
Installing a denial of access supporter applications to Instagram account Julia Toloknova
Regulation 5
Remove access from former employees, unlink them from your business profile. If the SMM manager worked only with Instagram under your credentials, it will be enough just to change the password. If he has access to the Instagram account through the associated Facebook page of the company, revoke it through the "Page Roles" tab. The tab is hidden very well, not everyone can find it the first time. Catch the fucking instructions.
Step 1. Log into Facebook and open your business page. Click "Settings".
Julia Toloknova
Step 2. In the "Settings" section, click on "Page Roles".
Step 3. Scroll down the page.
Julia Toloknova
Step 4. Examine the "Existing roles on the page" and keep only those that are needed.
Julia Toloknova
Step 5. Delete the selected person.
Julia Toloknova
Regulation 6
Periodically check your authorizations in Settings → Security → Account Logins. If you see incomprehensible locations in the list, change your password immediately - perhaps someone else is using your account.
Check authorization in your Instagram account Julia Toloknova
Rule 7
Hide your online status. "Settings" → "Privacy" → "Network status". The function works both ways - with a hidden network status, you will not be able to follow the online of other users.
Hide your online status on Instagram Julia Toloknova
Rule 8
Do not use Masfollowing, Massliking, Maslooking, etc. services in your promotion. These things don't work anymore!
Rule 9
Be vigilant! Don't follow unfamiliar links.
Not in the mail, not in direct!
What problems did you face on Instagram?
In my Instagram account you will find more useful information about copywriting, maintaining, designing, developing and promoting your Instagram (no gray schemes, just pure marketing). Join now!
Hello everyone. I am the marketing manager for Picalytics Instagram analytics and I decided to write an article for marketers and business owners, because in my work I encounter banal non-compliance with safety precautions several times a week.
Let's say you spent time and money promoting your account, fine-tuned your direct sales process, and got loyal customers. In the morning, you open Instagram to launch a promotion and... you can't log in to your account. In this article, you will learn about the “prevention” of hacking and what to do if your account is stolen.
You can sign up for Instagram via email, Facebook or phone number.
With access to your smartphone (and therefore Facebook, mail), it is easy to access all the services associated with them. Therefore, they steal accounts through these "entry points".
First of all, check the relevance and security of the services linked to your account. Then make sure that you have not specified the mail associated with the account in the contact methods.
And one more thing: you don't store access in Google Docs or notes on your smartphone, do you?
In addition to mail and phone theft, the most common hacking option is phishing (gaining access) to an account directly:
This is the usual copying of mail and official letters from Instagram. In this case, the attacker sends a letter that looks as close as possible to a letter from Instagram - both in interface design and in the sender's address.
The screenshots below show examples of emails from Instagram.
The role address can be different - you need to pay attention to the domain name (the part after @).:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/15987330/Instagram_2FA.png)
This is how a letter from scammers looks like.
Cloned phishing is designed for inattentive people and novice account administrators. Therefore, look both ways when you follow unknown links.
Business stories and useful tips
As a rule, these are photo editors, promotion automation, auto-posting, direct web versions, and so on.
Phishing apps are not tested by Google Play and AppStore. Such services, when registering, request access to an account or imitate authorization through Instagram.
Do not be afraid of authorization in third-party services: some options are not possible without access to an account.
Remember: authorization through Instagram takes place in a new tab on the official website of Instagram.
To check the list of applications that have access to your account, go to the application settings and click "Access Management". You have logged in to these applications through Instagram and can revoke access to your account from them.
If you have lost your smartphone or tablet with access to your account, change the password for Instagram and the service linked to it (mail or Facebook) as soon as possible.
In most cases, small Instagram accounts are hacked to be sold to third parties. On average, such "dead souls" cost $0.3-0.5.
In our experience with Instagram tech support, there is no relationship between account size (or ad budget) and response speed.
For example, after a major advertising campaign, we saw a duplicate account using our trademark (and this is a serious violation) and wrote to technical support. There has been no response from Instagram for three weeks. But there are exceptions to the rule.
Try to react quickly.
If you are still you can enter to your account, change the password from the linked services (mail and / or Facebook). Then enable two-factor authentication.
If you can't log in to your account over , try resetting your password via mail, Facebook or phone number. Upon successful login, enable two-factor authentication.
If you do not receive notifications from Instagram when resetting your password and cannot log in via Facebook (if it was connected), then your account was linked to another mail, and also unlinked from Facebook and a phone number (if if they were connected).
In this case, we recommend that you send a request to Instagram support:
Instagram can substitute the number of the SIM card currently in the phone in the phone number field - this is not always the number associated with the account.
By the way, we never received a magic link via SMS, despite the fact that the accounts were linked to a phone number.
If you did not receive a letter to your address or your nickname was changed, repeat the previous paragraph by entering both nickname and mail.
If you can't find your account using your old nickname anymore, look in your inbox for emails from Instagram. Didn't receive any information about the account change? Ask a friend to find out your current nickname through the history of correspondence in direct or from comments previously left on your behalf.
If you succeeded in logging in, change the password for your account and associated services (mail and/or Facebook). Then enable two-factor authentication.
1. On the password recovery page, click "Need more help?" and enter all the requested information. Check the box next to "My account has been hacked". Send a request and wait for a response to the specified mail.
2. If you do not receive a response within a few days, repeat the request by checking the box next to "I forgot the mail associated with my account."
If you managed to regain access to your account, you can change your nickname to any free one. Including your old nickname, if it has been changed.
In some cases, the condition for restoring access to the account by Instagram may be a change of nickname. In this situation, we recommend using a nickname that is as close as possible to the previous one: for example, add a dot or underscore.
If your account has been deleted, you can create a new account with the same email address, but you may not be able to use your old username.
Hacking an account without the help of its owner is a difficult task. Don't let a moment of inattention deprive you of months of work on your account.
How to insure your account:
Have you heard about account recovery stories with happy endings? Tell us about it in the comments: we will create a chat for support and exchange of experience.
