Someone hacked my instagram how do i delete it

Instagram Hacked? Here’s How to Recover Your Account

Instagram is crucial for designers, serving as a marketing and networking tool that’s key to landing new clients. So what should you do if you’ve had your Instagram hacked? First, don’t panic—you’re not alone. “I’d say it’s common for the average user to get hacked to some degree in their life,” says Matthew Krull, a social media strategist at design-focused communications agency Novità. “I hear more often than not from my friends and colleagues that they’ve experienced some suspicious activity on their account.” But if you’ve had your Instagram account hacked, it’s important to recover it as quickly as possible. Here are the steps for how to get your Instagram account back, as well as measures you can take to bolster your cybersecurity.

Can you get your Instagram back if it’s been hacked?

The short answer: It depends.

If you’ve had your Instagram hacked, it is possible to get it back, but you need to move fast, so that the hacker can’t compromise your account further. If you act quickly, you might be able to kick out the hacker while they’re in your account and before they’ve changed your info, deleted your photos, or posted to your profile. That way you can save yourself the trouble of having to recover your Instagram account through a Meta support request.

But if the hacker has already gone beyond logging in and potentially changing your password, Instagram account recovery becomes a lot more difficult. Depending on how much damage they’ve done, Instagram may be able to help you recover your account. But brace yourself: If your account has been deleted by a hacker, there might be nothing the Instagram support team can do to recover your account.

How do I get my Instagram account back?

There are two different levels of hacking: One that only changes your password, and another that changes your password and contact info. Here’s how to report a hacked Instagram account, and how to recover your Instagram account as soon as possible.

What to do if a hacker has changed your Instagram password

If you’ve found that your password no longer works, simply follow the steps for setting a new one, as prompted by the login page on the Instagram app. Hopefully, the login link will be sent to your email account or phone number, and you can use a security code to log back in to your account and change your password. This would be the best case scenario, as you can solve the problem yourself without having to contact Instagram. (That said, it’s not a bad idea to contact Instagram customer service anyway and let them know that your Instagram account has been hacked—the company may point out some helpful security tips to keep your account safe in the future.)

You’ve had your Instagram hacked, and the hacker changed your password and contact information. Now what?

Hitting a brick wall at the login screen? Yikes. If you’re locked out of your social media account, and you don’t receive a password reset link when you request one via the Forgot password button, a hacker may have changed your email and phone number. This is a more common type of hacking, as scammers know you will try to reset your password yourself, and they will want to keep control of the account for themselves. They may even hold your Instagram account for ransom, and request bitcoin or other plunder for you to get it back. If that’s the case, you’ll need to report the activity to Instagram by following the instructions here. They will ask you to verify your identity—you might even have to take a video selfie to prove you are who you say you are. This process likely won’t give you immediate access; it could take days or even weeks to recover your Instagram account.

Can you recover your Instagram account if it has been deleted?

In some cases, hackers might delete all your posts, or they might delete your account entirely. If they’ve deleted some but not all of your account, you might be able to retrieve posts by going into the Your Activity section of your Instagram account and selecting Recently deleted. There, you’ll find posts from the last 30 days as well as stories from the last 24 hours. You can then restore those images or videos.

But if your account has been totally deleted, you might be out of luck. Instagram itself says, “When you delete your account, your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers will be permanently removed.” You can create a new account with the same email address you used before, but you may not be able to get the same username.

That said, there is a window in which you can recover your Instagram account. “If someone has deleted your account, you technically have 30 days to contact Instagram to explain that you have been hacked and [ask them] to put your account back up. Instagram claims it stores your data for that long,” says digital marketer Jonathan Simon, director of marketing and communications at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa. “However, this is a long shot. Once your account is deleted, it is likely gone.”

Interior designer Kristen McGinnis, for instance, was not one of the lucky ones. Back in 2020, she found that she was logged out of her Instagram account due to suspicious activity—even though her two-factor authentication was enabled. “Instagram’s account retrieval process includes going through identity confirmation. I submitted this well over a dozen times within a month and received zero response,” McGinnis says. “Sadly, I never received any help, only headache and heartache.”

After a month, McGinnis gave up. She started a new Instagram account and used her inaugural post to explain what had happened to her former handle. She then started the arduous process of re-following her former connections, hoping they’d follow her back. Although many of them did, she needed to message others to reintroduce herself. The small silver lining was that her photos were auto-saved to her phone. Still, the mishap had a cost. “I lost a few thousand followers, many of whom I will never get back because I don’t know who to reach out to,” McGinnis says.

Even though no method of account protection is completely fail-safe, staying on top of security best practices can hopefully prevent you from having to rebuild your following. You can also download your data periodically in order to keep a record of your posts, your followers, and even your comments—that way, if you have your Instagram hacked and eventually need to rebuild your account, you have a head start.

What should you do if you’re locked out of your Instagram account?

For starters, remain calm. Sometimes getting locked out—especially for business accounts—is simply due to an oversight. “For instance, let’s say a social media manager moves on from the company,” says New York– and London-based digital content consultant Charlene C. Lam. “If a transition plan isn’t in place, it may be a while before the remaining team members realize they don’t know the Instagram password.”

To mitigate that risk, keep your Instagram account recovery codes stored in a secure place. These recovery codes will be used to reset two-factor authentication, which will help you get your Instagram account back. They can be found on the Security page of the Instagram app.

Unfortunately, there may be an instance where you’ve been locked out because you were genuinely been hacked by a scammer.

What should you do if you suspect someone is trying to hack your Instagram?

There are a few red flags that may indicate that someone may be trying to hack your Instagram account (or already has). Three big ones: receiving a changed-password email from Instagram that you didn’t trigger yourself, receiving an unprompted email-change request from [email protected], and seeing posts you didn’t make. Here’s how to get help.

What to do if Instagram noticed suspicious activity on your account

If someone attempts to reset your password, Instagram will send you an email informing you of the change. “I take immediate action as soon as I get a notification or email from Instagram letting me know there was suspicious activity on any of the accounts I manage,” Matthew Krull says.

If you receive an email that someone has requested to change your password, and it wasn’t you, someone may be trying to hack your Instagram account. Report the situation to Instagram via the link in that email, then immediately change your password.

If you received an email from [email protected] asking about changing the email address associated with your Instagram account, but didn’t make that request yourself, click the link in the message that says Secure My Account. If you are unable to get through the login page, the scammer may have changed your password. Don’t lose hope yet—you can still get help by requesting a login link or a security code.

But remain attentive when it comes to these Instagram emails: Some messages that appear to be from Instagram could be phishing attempts or scams from hackers. The good news is that Meta has developed a function to help protect you. If you enter the security section of the Instagram app, you can see what emails Instagram has sent you within the last two weeks. Reviewing that data should help you verify an email’s authenticity.

Keep in mind that other messages, like Instagram DMs and WhatsApp chats, can also contain phishing scams. Stay alert!

What to do if you noticed suspicious activity on your account

If you notice photos or stories you didn’t post yourself appearing on your page, but you’re still logged in, you’ve probably been hacked on Instagram. You should change your password immediately, as doing so will kick the hacker out of your account. You should also manually log out of any suspicious devices via your login activity page, as well as revoke access from any third-party apps that might have had a security breach and exposed your login information.

How to protect your Instagram account

Hacking isn’t limited to high-profile Instagrammers. “Any account can be a target, because if the hackers are successful, they can use the hacked account to try to get important information like credit card numbers, addresses, and PINs from other unsuspecting users,” Jonathan Simon says.

A strong password is an obvious place to start—and yes, those strings of letters and numbers suggested by Apple’s iOS are pretty safe. (If you’re concerned about remembering all of your logins, a digital password manager can help.) Still, there are a few additional steps you should take to thwart a potential hacking.

Turn on two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication requires users to enter a security code from an authentication app or your cell phone via text message (SMS) every time they log in to a new device—and it’s a solid deterrent to scammers. Meta offers this service, and you can set it up via the security page in the app.

Check your login activity

Keep an eye on your login activity, which can also be found under the security section of the app. There, you’ll see all the devices that your Instagram account is currently logged into, plus their geographic locations. If you see suspicious activity here, you can log out of those devices from your current one.

Check which third-party apps have access to your Instagram account

Granting third-party apps access to your account is an easy way to share content across different platforms, but it does come with some level of risk: Hackers can break into those apps and steal your Instagram login info. Head to your security settings, then click Apps and Websites to see what other apps have access to your Instagram account. Keep an eye out for any big data breaches that might affect those apps—if one happens, you’ll want to change your password immediately.

Enable auto-save

Though this measure won’t necessarily protect your account from hackers, it does give you a chance to save all your photos to your phone in the event you have your Instagram hacked and deleted. In the app, click on Settings, then Account, then Original Photos (iPhone) or Original Posts (Android), and make sure that Save is toggled on.

How to Get Back a Hacked Instagram Account

TLDR

After working with thousands of individuals attempting to recover their hacked social media accounts, our cyber experts are sharing the updated guide for: What to do if your IG account was hacked?

1. Protect your valuable assets.

This is just the beginning. When a social media account is hacked, your other accounts are immediately put at risk. This could include even more valuable assets like your email, banking, credit accounts, Crypto wallet, and more. It is important to move fast to protect yourself from further damage. This could be as simple as changing our other account passwords, or enabling Two Factor Authentication (2FA).

2. Account restoration takes time.

Now that you locked the door to your other assets, it’s time to take a deep breath and follow the instructions of our cybersecurity experts. We’ll walk you through the necessary steps to get back in control. The methods we use are widely available, but not everyone knows about the most effective methods. This comes from our vast experience helping hundreds of users recover their social media accounts.

3. Enable 24/7 online account monitoring & insurance.

Hacked accounts are far more likely to get hacked again. Once recovered – or if you create a new account – Enable 24/7 monitoring for your online accounts and credit report to ensure you are safe moving forward. Activate identity theft protection insurance for an extra layer of safety.

4. Your friends and family might be next.

Hackers move fast by using your identity to reach out to your inner circle. If you haven’t done it yet, share Cyrus to protect them. It is much easier to block a hacker than to remove one.
You can make all this happen through our customized app! Download Cyrus and follow the steps!

Instagram hacks today

Hackers don’t just target accounts from the rich and famous, but from ordinary people as well. So what do these hackers want with the account anyway? What are they doing with them and why is it so difficult to contact Instagram support about this issue?
To keep a long story short, though some hackers use Instagram accounts to spread spam or propaganda, most use them to make money, as much money as they possibly can. Since the account has your name on it, more people, especially your followers, are likely to believe anything they post, comment on, or send in a direct message. Plus, hackers like to prey on the fear and desperation that individuals may feel after getting locked out of their accounts; convincing them to send hundreds, if not thousands of dollars with the promise of returning the account. So what can we do to protect ourselves?

Recognize the Common IG Scams

Phishing Messages. These could come from email, text, DM, etc. but they all have the same idea. Always confirm if you recognize the phone number or email address the message is sent from! The messages usually ask you to verify or check something by clicking on a suspicious link that takes you to a bogus website. From here, you may be asked to enter your Instagram login credentials, security codes, or personal information like your bank/credit card credentials. If you don’t recognize the sender, or it seems suspicious, just delete it. If you’re unsure, ask Cyrus and our Experts will be happy to take a look for you.
Giveaways. You’re enticed to enter a drawing for this fantastic prize, but required to provide personal information or payment in order to claim your winnings.
Fake Investment Opportunities. Ever seen a post about earning a massive payout after investing just a small sum of money? This could include Venmo, CashApp, and Bitcoin advertisements. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Brand Collaboration Requests. A “new, hip, up-and-coming” brand offers to pay you for promoting its products. You’re asked for financial information so they can send you a paycheck, but in reality, they’re just trying to breach your bank account.
Bogus Job Offers. Scammers seek personal information from you (ex: your home address, driver’s license info, banking credentials, etc.) as part of their interview or “hiring” process.
Exposed Passwords. Another key reason is simply exposed passwords. There are millions of leaked passwords sold on the darkweb every day (or even offered for free). If this happens, there’s no way to remove it from the dark web. But you can simply change your passwords to make that old password obsolete.

Try not to Panic

Having a hacked Instagram account is obviously no fun, but you need a clear head to start the recovery process. Take a few deep breaths, and know that a hacked account is not the end of the world. It’s going to take time to recover your account, so keep this in mind from the beginning. Unfortunately, there’s no magical unicorn solution to get your account back overnight (at least not yet), so if you come across people or services who say they can do this for you after a hefty one-time fee, stay away.

If you have any questions or concerns, ask a trusted cybersecurity service like Cyrus. Online security doesn’t have to be scary.

Help Others Learn from your Experience

Let’s be honest…Instagram recovery doesn’t always have a happy ending. That said, the best thing you can do is educate people around you. Tell them about your experience so it doesn’t happen to them. If you’ve been hacked, immediately inform your followers to prevent any further damage. If anything, treat this as a learning experience and ramp up your cyber awareness and security moving forward. IG hacks are bad, but it could be a lot worse if your primary email address or bank account is hacked…

Preventing your Instagram account from being hacked

There are several preventative measures you can take to ensure that your Instagram isn’t hacked in the first place. For most of you reading this, it’s probably a little too late for prevention but it is vital to keep these tips in mind for after you recover your account and/or create a new one.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). You can do this directly from your IG account settings. If you already have 2FA activated but you selected WhatsApp or SMS codes, switch the delivery method to a third-party authentication app (this can prevent a hacker from intercepting a recovery code sent to your phone). You can learn more about 2FA HERE.
- Settings⚙️ > Security > Two-Factor Authentication
Change your password to something strong & unique. If your passwords were leaked to the dark web, an unrelated event may have put your IG account at risk. It’s important to use a unique password for every account rather than generic passwords that hackers can crack. Read more about password security HERE.
- Settings⚙️ > Security > Password
Enable backup codes or a recovery key. These can only be downloaded or written down, so a hacker should never be able to access them. Backup codes are automatically generated when you enable 2FA, so be sure to save them in a safe place.
Monitor other devices/locations which are signed in to your account. If you ever see a location that you don’t recognize, SIGN IT OUT! Unrecognized devices can mean that someone else has access to your account. In this case, you should immediately change password and activate 2FA before it’s too late.
- Settings⚙️ > Security > Login Activity
Monitor third-party applications. Regularly check on which applications have been granted access to your Instagram account. Some third-party tools are riskier than others (like follower/unfollower monitoring apps), and NOT NECESSARY to maintain an IG account. If you keep any applications linked, you’ll want to keep an eye out for any big data breaches that may affect you. Or these apps could be scams to begin with.
- Settings⚙️ > Security > Apps and Websites
Secure your email account. This might be obvious, but if a hacker has access to your email, they can easily hack and steal any account associated with it. Be sure to enable 2FA and change your password so that it is both strong and different from any other passwords you use.
Download Cyrus. As mentioned before, when you’re under attack, time is crucial. Our cybersecurity experts will first help you secure all of your assets before the hacker gets to them. Then we’ll help you enable all of the above security precautions to restore the account and lock the door behind it. We’ve helped hundreds of people recover their accounts using these methods. Based on our experience, the average recovery process takes around 1-2 weeks, but it’ll be worth it. Hacked accounts are far more likely to get hacked again. Be sure to enable 24/7 account monitoring and identity theft protection insurance to make sure you’re protected moving forward!! Learn more about Cyrus Solutions, Online Account Protection, and Credit Monitoring features to protect higher-priority assets (your email, other social media accounts, your money, etc).

Steps to Recover Your Instagram Account

The actual recovery process can look a little different for everyone, as Instagram is constantly testing different features and processes depending on your device type and app version. You might not be presented with the same recovery options as someone else, at least not today. For that reason, it’s important to remember this and to stay persistent when attempting to recover a hacked account.

Security Email from IG

First thing, check your inbox for an email from [email protected]. Under normal circumstances, Instagram is supposed to reach out to you if they detect suspicious activity like a new device login or a changed email. When caught early, changes can be reversed via this security email. You should see an option for “Reset your password” or “Secure your account” at the bottom where you’ll be able to change the password and kick the hacker out.

These are some examples of the security email(s) you might receive if your IG has been compromised.

Request a Login Link

As long as your backup contact methods haven’t been changed, you have the option to request a password reset link directly from Instagram. Just select “Get Help Logging in” on an Android or “Forgot Password” on an iPhone. You can do this from the web or Instagram app.

Requesting a login link is essentially the same process as resetting your password when you forget it.

Video Selfie

This is the best recovery option if the hacker has set up Two Factor Authentication (2FA). If you have photos of yourself in your account, you might be asked to submit a video selfie of yourself turning your head in different directions. This will be compared with pictures you have posted of yourself on your account. The review process may take up to 5 business days, and the video will be deleted within 30 days. This process can only be initiated from the IG app on a recognized device (i.e. one you’ve used to login into your account recently).

How do I get to the video selfie?

There’s no direct link to take you to the selfie video, but here is the most common pathway to get there.

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This typically can be accessed by entering the current username (even if the hacker changed it slightly)… Ask your friends to check their followers list/DMs/tagged photos of you to find the current username.

Click “Forgot Password?”
On the next screen, tap “NEXT” which should surface the hacker’s contact info.
If so, that’s okay, underneath the Blue button, tap “Can’t Reset Your Password?” or “Try Another Way.” In some cases, this will show your previous/original contact email and phone number.
In some cases, when you tap “NEXT,” it won’t even show the hacker’s contact info and will automatically send a code to the hacker’s email. If this happens, go back to the first screen after you tap ‘Forgot Password’ and tap “Can’t Reset Your Password?” or “Try Another Way” (this link appears on multiple screens, and shows different results).
(If you see your contact info) Send yourself a code to whichever method is most reliable.

You should see the original contact methods you used when signing up for Instagram on this page.

Once received, Enter the code. This should take you to a form. Answer the questions, and enter the most reliable email address when prompted.
If you don’t see your contact information and cannot send yourself a security code, tap “Try Another Way” at the bottom. You’ll see a small menu at the bottom of your screen. Choose “Get Support.”

The support screen you’re taken to may look something like this, but could look a little different if IG is testing different features.

You’ll have to enter a couple of quick answers (as seen in the screenshots above), and verify a reliable email address to get your recovery instructions.
Next, you will see instructions for the Video Selfie. It’s super fast and easy. Once completed, upload it to Instagram using the button in the app, and wait several business days for them to review it.

Make note of the confirmation screen after submitting your video selfie – you should also receive a confirmation email

This works best if you have plenty of photos of yourself in your Instagram account. It can be difficult for accounts used for business, or if the hacker removed most of the pictures of you. The Instagram team is overrun with these requests because hacking is so common. Even if you DO have pictures of yourself, it may be denied. You’ll receive an email either way. We recommend submitting a new Video Selfie following the same steps every time you receive a denial, or every 3-4 days if you don’t get any response at all.

If you know for a fact that you don’t have photos of yourself in your account, there is an option to select “No, I don’t have photos of myself” from this same flow. In this case, you should receive an email asking you to provide the initial email address or phone number as well as the type of device (e.g. iPhone, Android, iPad) you used when you signed up. Just follow the steps they outline in the email to proceed through the rest of the authentication process. You may also be routed to their Help Center.

Once your identity has been confirmed, you’ll receive an email that looks something like this:

Here’s an example of the email you might receive once your video selfie is confirmed.

Selfie Photo with a Hand Written Code

For some people, when they try to go through the selfie video process they are taken to a completely different form which asks them to provide all of their account details. The video is not even an option, but that’s okay! After submitting the form, you’ll receive an email (typically from Facebook as the sender) asking for a photo of yourself holding a hand-written provided by them, followed by your full name and username. In all honesty, it may look suspicious but this process is 100% legit.

After you submit the photo, it may take up to 2-3 weeks for a response. Better than nothing…

You may receive an email from Facebook outlining the above steps to confirm your identity.

Report an Impersonation

With this process, you would report that someone is impersonating you (which is technically true if the hacker is posting on your behalf). It’s super easy, and you can Click HERE to get started. First, you’ll click “Someone is impersonating me or my friend.” Then click “Yes, I am the person being impersonated.” Make sure you fill in the remaining fields accurately, otherwise Instagram may ignore your request. You’ll also want to Take AND Attach a selfie of your actual face, with your ID in the same photo to verify your identity. In the “Additional Info” section at the bottom, explain the situation at hand before submitting. In this section, leave as much detail as possible to prove this is your account, so they know the report is as legit as possible.

Be sure to click “Someone created an account pretending to be me or a friend” then “Yes, I am the person being impersonated” (this will expedite the process).

Request Login Support

This method is probably the least impactful but does allow you to submit a report for your hacked IG account assuming nothing else is working. You’ll want to click HERE to request login support. Make sure you enter the Username as it is TODAY (even if the hacker changed it slightly), so IG support will be able to research the correct account. For the first 4 questions after that, you will likely answer “Yes.” Then at the very bottom under “Add Additional Comments” you should include details on the situation (i.e. “Someone hacked my account and is impersonating me…”). Easy peasy!

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F&Q

The short answer: No. You might be able to find a phone number or email floating around online for Instagram, but they are all old automated contact methods that are no longer in use. You’ll either get no response at all or will be directed toward their Help Center for further assistance. As you probably already know, the best kind of help you can get there is an automated support form. If you want to chat with a real human, our Cyrus Security experts are happy to help with your IG account. You can Click Here to learn more about Cyrus and/or download the Cyrus App.

Click “Forgot Password?”
On the next screen, tap “NEXT” which should surface the hacker’s contact info.
If so, that’s okay, underneath the Blue button, tap “Can’t Reset Your Password?”
1. In most cases, this will show your previous/original contact email and phone number.
In some cases, when you tap “NEXT,” it won’t even show the hacker’s contact info and will automatically send a code to the hacker’s email.
1. If this happens, go back to the first screen after you tap ‘Forgot Password’ and tap “Can’t Reset Your Password?” or “Try Another Way” (this link appears on multiple screens, and shows different results)
Send yourself a code to whichever method is most reliable. (You may have to tap “Try Another Way” at the bottom of the screen if you didn’t see this option previously)
Once received, Enter the code. This should take you to a form. Answer the questions, and enter the most reliable email address when prompted. They will send you another code to this email address to confirm you have access to it. Enter the code once you receive it.
Next, you will see instructions for the Video Selfie. It’s super fast and easy. Once completed, upload it to Instagram using the button in the app, and wait several business days for them to review it.

**Please note that the process to arrive at the selfie video can look a little different for everyone. This is the most common pathway, but you might see some slightly different pages and/or prompts on your end. Other outcomes could be: (1) verify a previous password on your account, or (2) Support Request Form (enter an email address; choose your reason; and provide details about the issue)

Another way to report a hacker is from within the app itself. While viewing the account in question…

In the upper-right corner, tap the (3 dots).
Tap “Report…” on the screen that pops up. This will surface reasons for reporting the account.
Then tap “Report Account“
In most hacked cases, the hacker is posting about Bitcoin or some other misleading or suspicious jive. Therefore, the most accurate reason to Report the account in that menu is “It’s pretending to be someone else.”
Then when they ask “Who is this account pretending to be?” – Select Me (if it’s your account) or Someone I know (if it’s your friend/family member).

Click “Submit Report”

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to delete an account to which you no longer have access. If you’d rather go down this route, we would recommend (1) submitting the aforementioned Impersonation Form, or (2) reporting the account using an alternate login or having your friends/family do so. Try reporting it a minimum of 30 times between you and your friends for the quickest response.

In some cases, hackers might delete all your posts, or they might delete your account entirely. Other times Instagram will actually deactivate the hacked account due to a violation of their community guidelines (i.e. too many spam posts, comments, and/or DMs by the hacker). Either way, Instagram supposedly stores your information for a couple of weeks after this happens. In most cases, you might be better off creating a new account, but if you’re still desperate to recover it, here’s our recommendation:

There are 3 forms you can fill out and submit for deactivated accounts. They are technically for different reasons of deactivation, but the bottom line is, if you submit them all, your situation should be covered by at least one of them:

This one is a bit more general and simple, but easy to submit and should warrant a review/response from IG after a few business days.
This form is almost identical to the first one, and you can leave a detailed explanation, which always helps.
This One is similar to the first one, except it gives you the opportunity to confirm your identity by attaching a photo of your government issued ID. This is a huge factor, and each of these forms should be helpful.
This last form is for deactivation due to intellectual property violations or sharing fraudulent or misleading content (most of these hackers share Bitcoin “get rich quick” info, which would qualify as misleading content.)

When allowed, it would really help your case in terms of confirming your identity to submit a selfie of you (your actual face) and holding your ID (where they can read the name clearly).

The recovery process looks different for everyone, but you should expect this to take a couple of weeks on average (a minimum of 5-10 business days). Instagram is handling thousands of these requests a day, so there is no way to speed up the process. After you submit your recovery requests, try to sit tight and know that you’ve done everything in your power to get your account back. You may need to submit certain options multiple times before they are approved.

You can always report your hacked social media account(s) to local authorities to put it on record. It’s possible your friends, peers, or co-workers can see your accounts. If they disapprove of the content being published, this could negatively affect you, and in extreme cases, maybe cost you your job. There’s generally very little the police can do to help you recover it. However, it’s a great idea to put it on record that you were not in control of the account when misleading or otherwise suspicious info was posted to an account under your name and identity.

Though Meta owns both Instagram and Facebook, the account recovery process is very different. If you’d like assistance with a hacked Facebook account, our cybersecurity experts are happy to help! Click HERE for more information.

What to do if you think your Instagram account has been hacked?

Take action on the website or app to secure your Instagram account if you think it has been hacked or is being used by someone else. If someone has accessed your account or you're having trouble signing in, visit this page in a browser on your computer or mobile device to help protect your account.

You can also try to restore access by following the steps below. Some of the actions listed are not available for all account types, but we recommend trying each one.

Check if you received an email from Instagram

If you received an email from [email protected] informing you that your email address has changed, please try to cancel and secure your account by clicking on the link. If some other information has changed (for example, the password), and you cannot restore the previous email address, request a login link or Instagram security code.

Request Instagram login link

To help us verify that the account belongs to you, request a login link, which we will send to your email address or phone number.

To request a login link:

Click Forgot your password? on the login screen.

Enter the username, email address, or phone number associated with your account and click Next. If you don't have access to that username, email address, or phone number, enter the login information you last used. Then click Can't reset your password? under the Next button and follow the instructions on the screen.

Pass verification to verify you are human.

Select your email address or phone number, and then click Next.

Follow the login link provided in the email or SMS and follow the instructions on the screen.

Request a security code or support on Instagram

If you can't recover your account using the login link, request support from your mobile device.

To do this, follow the steps below.

Press Can't reset your password? under the Get a login link option on the login screen. Select an email address or phone number, and then click Send security code.

If you didn't receive a security code, click I don't have access to this email address or phone number under the Send security code button. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Please enter a secure email address that only you can access. After submitting your request, expect an email from Instagram with further instructions.

Learn more about what you can do if you don't know your username.

Verify your identity

If you request support for an account that does not have a photo of you, you will receive an automatic email response from Meta Support. In order to verify your identity, we will ask you to provide the email address or phone number that you provided during registration, as well as the type of device from which you registered (for example, iPhone, Android device, iPad, etc. ).

If you request support for an account that contains a photo of you, we will ask you to take a video selfie of you turning your head in different directions. This way we can verify that you are a real person and confirm your identity.

After sending a video selfie, you will receive an email from Instagram to the email address you provided. With the help of this video, we will be able to verify that you are a real person and verify your identity.

Notes. The video you send will never appear on Instagram and will be deleted after 30 days.

If we can't verify your identity using the received video, you can submit a new one for verification.

Instagram does not use facial recognition, and we do not use this technology for video selfies. A video selfie allows us to verify that you are a real person, and we can manually verify it to grant you access to your account.

If you can log into your Instagram account

If you think your account has been hacked or has been attempted to be hacked, but you can log in, check out our security tips:

Change your password or request an email to reset your password.

Enable two-factor authentication.

Make sure your phone number and email address are correct in your account settings.

Check the Account Center and remove linked accounts that you don't recognize.

Revoke the permissions of all suspicious third-party applications.

how to restore an account and return the page

Today, social networks are the best way to reflect how we would like to appear before the whole world, and from the thought that you can lose your "presence" on the pages of social networks - and at the same time, kilometers correspondence, subscribers and likes - terrifies. At the same time, hackers hack into thousands of Instagram accounts every day. How not to become a victim of modern technology and what to do if your Instagram was hacked this time - we analyze below.

How do you know if your Instagram has been hacked?

At the moment in Kazakhstan, the situation is such that interruptions in the work of social networks are a fairly common problem. Realizing that your account is not working not because you are in the Internet blocking zone, but because someone really hacked you, you should act immediately. What are the signs of hacking?

The password has changed, you cannot log in to the social network.
There are publications that were not made by you.
Some correspondence has disappeared.
Weird places or gadgets were found in the activity history.
The account has been deleted or disabled.

You see one of the situations described above - change the password immediately, if it is still possible.

Who needs it?

Who hacked your Instagram is another question that may interest you. If you have several tens of thousands of subscribers, hackers can demand money for the account or resell it. Do not fall for provocations and immediately contact the support of the social network.

Another potential reason for hacking could be jealousy or distrust on the part of a loved one. That is why all passwords should be kept strictly secret, do not share them with anyone!

Instagram was hacked. What to do?

So, your Instagram was hacked. What should be your first steps if you are the victim of a scammer?

Try to solve the problem yourself

Most likely when hacking, hackers will change your profile name and password. In this case, your actions should be as follows:

Click on the "Help" section.
Enter a nickname or email address.
If your nickname has been changed, there is a function to send a screenshot.
Wait for the arrow to activate.
Click on the line with additional help.

Next, you should write down the reason (hacking), then send a request. After some time, you will receive a response - most likely, you will be asked for additional information, asked to take a photo with a code or send personal documents. If everything is in order, the profile will be restored in a few days.

Hacked Instagram + e-mail

Often scammers change the password not only on your page, but also in the e-mail to which it is attached (which is why it is especially important that the passwords are different everywhere). Here you can try to restore access through a phone number or Facebook. If this did not work out, try turning to the so-called ethical hackers, which we talk about in the next part of the article.

Contact a specialist

If you cannot solve the problem yourself, you should contact a specialist. Anton Zodiak, an ethical hacker who helped restore the accounts of Kazakhstani celebrities Dinara Rakhimbayeva, Ramine Taipova, Asel Askar, Karina Syzdykova and Alina Martin, answered the most frequently asked questions especially for us.

Why it is important to contact specialists

Often the cause of hacking is human carelessness. Most people are not technically literate. Accordingly, methods of hacking pages and methods of struggle are being improved every day. In order to get their account back quickly and without loss of content, people are looking for a person who will help them. In some cases, the pages are hidden so that they are almost impossible to find. A competent specialist knows all the hacking and return methods that exist today, so he can return the account in a short time.

How long to wait

How long it takes to recover a page after a hack depends on the complexity of the problem. This may take a few minutes or several days.

What to do if scammers have hacked Instagram and demand money

If your Instagram has been hacked, never send money to scammers. Once paid, they always either ask for more or stop communicating. When capturing an account, many immediately delete it forever, then ask for money and return the password. But the page has been removed.

How can I protect myself from being hacked?

It seems that no one is safe from a burglary situation. However, in many cases it can indeed be avoided. You just have to follow a few simple rules.

Complex password

Sounds like an obvious thing, but your password really needs to be complex. Use uppercase, lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, but never create a password from your date of birth or the name of a loved one!

Passwords must be different for different social networks and services. Smartphones have special applications that will help you remember all the passwords, but you should be extremely careful with them: they do not guarantee anything. Come up with several options for a complex password with minimal variations, so that if something happens, you can pick it up. And keep it in a closed, safe place.

Two-factor identification

This feature appeared in Instagram for a long time, but, unfortunately, few people use it. Turn it on and you'll have to enter a special code every time you visit the page on a new device. This will make your account harder to hack.

Phishing

Ethical hacker Anton Zodiak believes that human inattention is the most popular "culprit" of hacking. “Always check who the letter came from. Fraudsters send phishing messages purporting to be from Instagram, he says. - People click on the sent link, which gives hackers access to their personal data. It is very easy to identify a phishing email: when you click on the link, look at which site you have landed on. If it doesn't say Instagram.com, then it's a hack."

Link a phone number to Instagram and Facebook

This precaution will give you additional loopholes when you try to recover your account.

Stories of real people whose Instagram was hacked in Kazakhstan

We share with you two real stories that we found useful.

My Instagram was hacked. Story #1

On August 22, 2019, blogger Asel Zoi shared her story on her Facebook page.

“Over the past few days, several of my friends' Instagram accounts have been hacked at once. And they turned to me,” she shared. “Usually the attack of hackers goes to the regions: so hold on…”. Asel advises not to fall for phishing, enable two-factor authentication, and immediately contact technical support. “But keep in mind, Facebook and Instagram support is very slow and reluctant to respond,” she added.

Asel Zoi

“In parallel, contact as many friends as possible with a request that they send requests from their Instagram accounts to hack your account. The more requests IG receives, the higher the chance that tech support will respond to your problem.

“It is not always possible to restore the account name, because usually renamed. And twice in the IG you can not be called by the same name. Therefore, in advance, come up with an alternative option that will be hooked.

“And finally, stay away from all social networks, banks, etc. The issue of cybersecurity is coming to the fore in our time. I recommend changing/verifying your keys every month and additionally storing them in printed form.”

My Instagram was hacked. Story #2

“The Instagram account of my store was hacked three times,” says Baktybala Torgautova, founder of the Instagram store @matays_kz_.

“The first time it was hackers from Russia. My page was hacked and they immediately wrote on WhatsApp that they have my account and they demand to transfer about 50,000 tenge. I did not know how to do this, because my bank cards did not involve international transactions. As a result, the hackers asked to use the Yandex.Money service. When that didn’t work either, I sent the amount through a Qiwi wallet. I got my account back."

via @matays_kz_

“The second case was a little different: I bought an account with subscribers, paid for it, but after some time I was blocked from accessing it, as it turned out that the account was someone else's and did not belong to the seller. With this situation, I went to the police department at the place of registration. All in all, I spent about four hours there. First I told four different people my story, they listened to me, but did not know how to help. The fifth policeman received me, listened to me and said that a protocol should be drawn up.