Getting your Instagram account hacked is a headache—and in some cases, a majority of your brand’s traffic comes from this platform. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to regain access to your account, and the whole process of recovering or changing your password can be quite frustrating.
Fortunately, there are ways to keep our platforms protected. We put together a brief guide on what to do if your Instagram gets hacked and some general tips to protect your accounts—read on to learn how.
What To Do If Your Instagram Account Gets Hacked:
If you suspect that your Instagram is hacked or in danger, the sooner you act, the better. There are three crucial steps you must take immediately to revert this situation:
Check Your E-Mail: For Instagram, having an account change its email address is a big deal. Naturally, they will send an email to the previously associated mailbox to confirm this change. Check your email for an email from security@mail.instagram.com, and you will find the “revert this change” button. But be sure to do this quickly because, in some cases, hackers have also hacked into your email and deleted this so that you have no chance of recovery.
Request a Login Link: If your password has been changed, you should request a login link as soon as possible.
On the login screen, tap the “Forgot password” or “Get help logging in” option. Instagram will redirect you to the “Trouble logging in?/Sign in help” screen. Once there, click the “Send login link/Next” option and follow the instructions.
Enter a secure and trusted email address, and Instagram will send you the next steps to recover your account.
Request Security Code Or Support: If the above steps do not work, you can report the account as hacked.
Tap “Help Us Recover Your Account” and select “I can’t access this email or phone number.” Then, select “My account was hacked.” Instagram will ask you to send a photo and fill in some sensitive account information.
All of these steps don’t guarantee to be 100% effective. That’s why you’ll need, in the first place, to protect your accounts to make it harder for hackers.
Tips to protect your social media accounts
In the vast majority of cases, prevention is better than cure. Cybersecurity and data protection is something you should consider before your data is compromised.
Choose a secure password: Be sure to create a password that includes numbers, letters, and symbols to make it difficult for hackers. Many password managers can help you create and store complex and secure passwords.
Ensure your email account is protected: Choose an encrypted email platform and store your password in a safe place.
When was the last time you checked your password-recovering questions? Is your recovery phone number or email address up to date? Check those, too!
Enable two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication is a multi-step process that protects your account. If someone tries to log in from an unrecognized device, Instagram will send a code to your cell phone or email to confirm access.
Are you taking all of these preventative actions with your accounts?