After adding some new features picked up from Twitter and BeReal, Instagram is finally launching something that’s actually useful. Among the platform’s set of new features, there are now those that will enable you to regain your account in case it gets hacked.
Having a social media account hacked is a nightmare for every creator, and I know more than just a few people who’ve been through it. Whenever I open Instagram’s Twitter to see new announcements, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of people commenting about having their accounts hacked and not being able to retrieve them. I’ve been seeing that literally for years now, and it looks like Instagram has finally decided to take those complaints seriously.
Of course, to make your account as secure as possible in the first place, you should create a strong password, enable two-factor authentication, and avoid clicking on any sketchy links you get in your DMs. Still, some scams are pretty believable and hackers have other ways of getting your login credentials, and in those cases, Instagram offers new tools for recovering your account.
“Instagram Hacked” website
If you’re having any access issues or your account may have been hacked, there is now a dedicated website just for that. Go to Instagram.com/hacked on your phone or desktop browser and select whether you’ve been hacked, forgot your password, lost access to two-factor authentication, or if your account has been disabled. From there, Instagram takes you through a series of steps to help you regain access to your account. If you have multiple accounts, you will be able to choose which one of them needs support.
Help from friends
Alternatively, you can ask your friends for help if you don’t have access to your account for any reason. This feature was tested earlier, but it’s now available to everyone. Choose two of your Instagram friends who will verify your identity and get you back into your account.
Prevention is the best cure
Needless to say, it’s better not to have your account hacked in the first place. This is why Instagram is also testing ways to help prevent hacking before it happens.
First, the app will remove accounts that its automated systems recognize as malicious. This includes accounts that impersonate others, which goes against Instagram’s Community Guidelines. Second, Instagram will send you warnings if it suspects someone with an impersonating account request to follow you. This is because, as Instagram notes, “bad actors often don’t immediately use accounts maliciously.” And thirdly, another feature is coming over the following months: you’ll get a warning if an account that may be impersonating a business sends you a DM.
To show you someone’s account is legit, Instagram is also showing you the blue “verified” badge in more places now, such as Stories, DMs, and soon, Feed. “That way, you can quickly determine whether the account you are interacting with is authentic,” Instagram writes.
Of course, keep your account safe and pay attention to whom you interact with and what you click on. As I mentioned above, it’s up to you to come up with a strong password and use two-factor authentication. But it’s good to know that there are finally some tools that will make our lives on Instagram easier instead of more complicated.
[via Engadget; image credits: Instagram]
FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!