Instagram is undoubtedly one of the most fan-favourite social media platforms, if not the most used and popular one. Emerging as a photo-sharing platform, Instagram has evolved to become something much bigger than that. From posting short videos to uploading stories to hopping onto live streams, the platform does it all leaving no compromise on entertainment for the general users. However, this massive popularity makes Instagram prone to account hacks and fraudulent activities. Many users have been victims of such attacks over the years and many have never gained back access to their accounts. But if it’s not too late, an Instagram account can be recovered by performing certain methods which is exactly what we are going to guide you through in this article.

How to tell if your Instagram account is hacked

Identifying a hacked Instagram account can be done in several ways. One of the most prominent instances of a hacked account is when you notice posts and stories uploaded to your account without any acknowledgement. These can be sketchy images or spam texts shown to your followers and audiences. Another way to tell your account is in great danger is when you’re notified of an unfamiliar login to your account through another device. In that case, you should immediately head over to Instagram and change your password in due time. Furthermore, hackers may even revamp your IG profile such as changing the bio and profile picture to portray you as someone else and even bulk spam your friends and followers in DMs.

How to recover hacked Instagram account

Got your Instagram hacked? Fret not as there are several methods you can use to recover your account and restore it the way it was prior to the hack.

Changing Instagram account password

When you notice something shady with your IG accounts such as unfamiliar login or an image that you never posted, the next immediate step is to change your account’s password. Here’s how.

  • Open the Instagram app on your mobile phone
  • Head over to the profile tab on the bottom right
  • Now select the ‘3 bar’ menu at the top right corner and tap ‘Settings’
  • Go to ‘Security’ within the settings
  • Here the first option is ‘Password’ Select it
  • Now enter your current password as well as the new password twice
  • Once done, hit the ‘checkmark’ button at the top and you’ve set your new Instagram password

Log out of all active sessions

The majority of account hacks are done from outside the country you reside, or at least that’s what hackers want you to think as they use a VPN to avoid traceability. In such instances, you may receive a mail on your registered email ID regarding an unknown login activity from a different place or country. Here’s how to revoke access from such devices.

  • Open the Instagram app on your mobile
  • Tap on your profile tab at the extreme bottom right corner
  • Now select the hamburger menu (3 lines) at the top right corner
  • From this menu, select the ‘Settings’ option
  • Next, select the ‘Security’ option
  • Now tap on the ‘Login activity’ option
  • From here you can check all the devices your account has been logged in to. Simply remove any unfamiliar device to secure your account from hackers

Remove third-party applications

At times third-party apps may witness flaws that can put your personal information and data at risk. This happens when hackers are successfully able to bypass the security of the particular third-party app. To remove your account access from such apps, here’s what you need to do.

  • Open the Instagram app on your mobile
  • Tap on your profile tab at the extreme bottom right corner
  • Now select the hamburger menu (3 lines) at the top right corner
  • From this menu, select the ‘Settings’ option
  • Next, select the ‘Security’ option
  • From here, tap on the ‘Apps and websites’ option
  • On the next screen, you’ll be able to remove access from particular apps

Request login link from Instagram

In case of hacks, the attacker may log out of all your devices after entering into your account. They may change the password as well. In such a scenario, you can request a login link from Instagram via email.

  • When you open Instagram, you’ll be presented with the login screen
  • Since your account’s password may have been changed by the hacker, you need to select ‘Get help logging in’
  • This will make Instagram send a special login link to your inbox
  • Open the mail and follow the instructions thereafter

Request a security code from Instagram

If the above method doesn’t work and the hackers have changed both your email and password associated with your Instagram account, you can request a security code. Here’s how.

  • Upon opening Instagram you’ll be presented with the login screen
  • From here select ‘Get help logging in’
  • Now enter your username, email address or phone number
  • Next, select “Need more help?” and follow the on-screen instructions
  • Tap on “Send security code”
  • Now check your email or SMS for a code sent by Instagram
  • Enter the code on the Instagram app
  • Thereafter, follow the instructions such as verifying your identity to recover the hacked account

How to report to Instagram if your account is hacked

Instagram account hacks can completely lock you out of your account especially when the username and password has been changed. Fortunately, there’s a way to report a hacked account using your friends’ accounts. Here’s how.

  • Ask one of your friends or family member on Instagram to go to your IG profile
  • Now tap on the ‘hamburger menu’ at the top right corner
  • Select the first option named “Report”
  • Next select “Report account”
  • It’ll ask the reason to report the account. Select one of the appropriate options such as “It’s pretending to be someone else”
  • On the next screen, tap on “Someone I know”
  • Once the report is sent, Instagram will investigate the profile and will contact you regarding the outcome of the report

How to secure your Instagram account from hacking?

Securing your Instagram account with preventative measures should always be the priority for any user. With various security layers in place, hackers and attackers can have a hard time getting access to your account. Here are some methods to secure your Instagram account.

Strong password

Always use a strong password that consists of unpredictable text, numbers and characters. Avoid using common personal information associated with you such as birth date or mobile number and instead use a combination of words and various characters.

Using two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication is a way of adding an additional layer of security over your Instagram account. Although the process of logging in can be tedious but once enabled, it’s completely worth enhancing the security of the account. There are various ways to set up two-factor authentication such as sending the code via SMS, email or even through an app such as Google Authenticator. Hackers may have access to your login details but not your phone or SMS, which simply makes two-factor authentication a lifesaver.

Watch out for phishing websites

Phishing websites are the ones designed to look like the original website they portray. Once a person falls into the traps of such spoof websites, they can get the login credentials putting your account in great danger. To avoid this, always check the website URL before submitting any of your details. Similarly, don’t simply give away your details to third-party apps and websites asking you to log in with Instagram credentials without verifying.

Make your profile private

If you do not post anything publicly and don’t run a page then it’s safe to make your Instagram profile private. This ensures only your friends and followers get access to view what you post without random strangers peeping into your profile.

Phone number and email address confirmation

Always verify and confirm your phone number and email address on Instagram. This ensures you genuinely own the account. Furthermore, having an email setup means you can get all emails related to your IG account such as login alerts, two-factor authentication codes, security codes etc.

How your Instagram can be hacked

No matter how strong the account security Instagram implements for users, there are many thoughtful tricks hackers can use to hack your account directly or indirectly. These are several ways an Instagram account can be hacked.

MITM attacks

MITM stands for man in the middle, which is a technique used by hackers to persuade you to hand out your details to them such as account credentials or bank account details in an indirect manner. They do this by finding a loophole in the network and then using it to their advantage by breaking the HTTPS connection request and redirecting all the data of the victims to their site or server. Apart from that, there are many other ways attackers may use the MITM technique such as DNS spoofing, IP spoofing etc. To prevent this, always ensure you’re connected to a safe network and avoid using public wifi.

Bait and switch attack

Ever came across a very appealing product, discount ad and wondered if it’s too good to be true? Well, it’s more than likely such an ad is completely fake and has a catch behind it. This is what bait and switch attacks do. Attackers place very catchy and attention-grabbing ads on a website and when a user clicks on it, it redirects to a shady website and may ask you to enter your Instagram login details to grab the product deal. Once you enter the details it’s game over and the people behind such fraud ads have gained access to your account. As mentioned earlier, always check the URL and verify the websites before entering even minute details of yours.

Verification badge offers

A verification badge on Instagram profiles, as the name suggests is a way to give exclusive identity to the original person using the profile. It means that the person or organisation behind that profile is an official one while others with the name or profile picture are either fake, fan pages or not affiliated to the verified profile. That said, having a verified badge gives you a sort of elite status on the platform. Taking this into account, attackers send DMs along with a link to people who they think can fall into the trap of greed in getting a verified badge. The link may redirect to some shady website where it asks you to enter Instagram login details. Once you enter, attackers may acquire your credentials.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What precautions you can take to avoid Instagram account hacks?

To ensure the maximum security of your Instagram account, always take these precautions.

  • Only log in to Instagram app and websites

Always avoid downloading and logging in to third-party Instagram clients or mods. These apps may provide some additional features and functionalities but at the same time can pose an extreme threat to your security and privacy. Similarly, when logging in to the web version of Instagram on a desktop, ensure the URL contains only www.instagram.com and nothing beyond that especially if you’ve been particularly redirected from a post or ad on social media.

  • Log out of Instagram on other’s devices

For whatever reason you may have logged in your Instagram account on other’s phone or PC even for a while, ensure to log out after use. You never know what can happen to your Instagram ID in the slightest time period. Additionally, Instagram also allows users to remotely log out of their account on previously signed-in devices through the security settings within the Instagram app and website.

  • Stay away from fraudulent and scammy posts

“Earn Rs 10,000 per day working from home” or “Get $800 in your bank account within a week” are types of posts and messages you should instantly ignore without giving a second thought. People behind such content may trick you into giving out your personal details such as login credentials or banking details by putting a huge bait in between in the form of monetary value and even cryptocurrency in some cases.

  • Never link Instagram account with shady apps

There are many apps that claim to increase your followers, likes, impressions etc. Do not fall into greed and connect your Instagram account to such apps. This may put your data at great risk and also gives off a suspicious signal to Instagram algorithms on how quickly the stats are skyrocketing without any activity on the account. Over time, it may result in a shadow ban of your account where you won’t possibly be able to grow organically as Instagram won’t push your content and profile to a wider audience.

2. Can hackers recover your Instagram account?

After going through the tedious process of getting back your account from hackers, don’t let your guard down. Your next step should be to ensure and implement maximum security by enabling two-factor authentication, login alerts, and making the profile private. Additionally, you can always have a look at the ‘Security checkup’ dashboard from account settings to see whether every security measure is in place such as whether you’re using a strong password, have a verified email and mobile number etc.

3. What to do if I have been phished on Instagram?

If you think you’ve entered your Instagram login details outside of Instagram you should immediately head over to the account settings and change your password. But if its too late and you no longer have the access to your account, you can try out several ways to recover your account such as requesting a login link or security code from Instagram. Furthermore, you can report such phishing websites and apps directly to Instagram by mailing [email protected]

4. My Instagram account is posting unauthorized content. What should I do?

If you notice your IG account is leaving comments or sharing posts you haven’t done, in that case, the next immediate effect to take is to change revoke any unfamiliar device access and also change your password. You may also remove third-party access from your account which might be posting on your behalf without any prior acknowledgment. Furthermore, you should also enable two-factor authentication to add an additional security to the account.

5. How do I verify my identity?

If you get locked out of your Instagram account due to hacks or other suspicious activities, there are two ways to verify and claim your identity.

  • Through the device you’ve used to log in – This method involves using the device you’re usually logged into. Instagram will ask you for your email address, phone number and device type. Using this information it’ll initiate a verification request and may get your account back.
  • Through video selfie – In this method, you’ll be required to send a video selfie of yours from various angles. With the already existing and uploaded pictures in your profile, Instagram will match the photos and verify the particular account is truly yours. As per Instagram, the selfies will only be used for verification purposes and will be kept in their servers for only 30 days.

5. Does Instagram Help Center reply?

Instagram Help Center may take hours, days or even months to reply to certain queries. Depending upon the intensity of the issue, Instagram may go through various processes in the backend before coming up with a justifiable solution for its users.

Source: https://www.91mobiles.com/hub/instagram-account-hacked-how-to-recover/