How to secure your Instagram account from being hacked.
It is a common trend these days to lose your Instagram account to scammers and hackers. Securing your Instagram account from being hacked is no longer a bother just for companies and large businesses but even also for small businesses, individuals and in fact, anyone who owns an account on Instagram.
There are various security measures Instagram has put in place to ensure the safety of all users’ accounts. However, the activities of hackers are on the rise and they succeed without stress either because most of us remain ignorant of these security methods or bluntly ignore them. Well, I’m here to help! In this article, I have listed out detailed steps on how to secure your Instagram account from being hacked. Here are some precautionary measures you could adopt.
Avoid signing into websites that promise you Instagram followers. Your Instagram password is a treasure, your treasure, and it should be treated as such. Putting your login details (including password) on such websites makes your account vulnerable and easy to hack.
Enable two-factor authentication
There are two ways you could do this. First is an SMS code from your phone number and second is login code from a third-party app.
For Sms code,
- Open Instagram.
- Log into your profile.
- Click on the hamburger menu and select Settings.
- Go to Security.
- Open Two-Factor Authentication.
- Enable Text Message.
- Input your mobile number and enter the code sent to your phone through SMS.
- You’re done! Your account is secure. A confirmation code will be sent to that mobile number each time you want to login.
For the login code from a third-party app, we recommend Google authenticator.
- Download the app from Google play store.
- Go to your Profile and select Settings.
- Tap Security. scroll down and tap Two Factor Authentication
- Tap Get Started
- Tap the icon next to Authentication App, and follow the promptings.
- Copy the confirmation code from the Authentication app and paste it in the box Instagram will provide you. The process is now complete.
Apart from enabling two-factor verification, here are some other precautions you could take.
- Avoid logging in on multiple devices. If you must log in with a device which is not yours, remember to log out when you are done.
- Never tick the ‘remember me’ box when logging in. If you log in from a browser, do not save your password on it.
- Use strong passwords. This makes it almost impossible to guess your password (this is one common method hackers use!). A mixture of numbers, upper and lowercase letters and symbols are often recommended. However, make sure your password is something you can easily remember.
- Avoid clicking just any link on Instagram. Most of them are phishing links. A phishing link is a link that can be used to maliciously steal important details such as your login details. They are not identified at a glance, especially if you are not tech-savvy. It would be better to click links on only accounts you trust, especially if your Instagram account is for your business.
- Unless necessary, deny Instagram access to your location. If you must do this, let it be just for a moment. Do not allow access to your location for a long time or worse still, permanently.
- Avoid free wifi or network, especially in public places. This is because intelligent hackers using that same wifi network with you at the moment could intercept your Instagram activities by showing you fake log out notifications and prompt you to log back in. When you do so, they hack your account immediately.
- If you use a social media manager, it’s best not to give them your password. I’m not insinuating that these social media managers could be hackers. Most of them will most likely not adhere to safety tips and be as careful with your password as you’ll be.
In a nutshell
Losing your Instagram account to hackers comes with many downsides, especially if you own a verified account or a business account. Adhering to all the safety tips in this article will help you prevent your Instagram account from being hacked.