If Your Instagram Account Becomes Compromised: Control Measures to Implement

If Unfortunate Situation Arises and Your Instagram Account Gets Compromised:

Table of Contents1. Has Your Instagram Been Compromised?2. Actions to Take If Your Instagram is Hacked3. Regaining Control of Your Instagram Account4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

It's a widespread occurrence, even on Instagram; according to reports from StationX, approximately 85% of users have experienced account infringements at some point, making it one of the most frequently hacked social media platforms. With over 36,222 accounts being compromised each month in 2023, hackers can gain access to your information in various ways. It may be through insecure accounts where you've used the same password, or via fraudulent activities, such as encouraging a click on a deceptive link or downloading harmful software. Once hackers gain control of your account, they can exploit it to steal personal information, scam followers by impersonating you, or even access other online accounts. This article discusses what to do if your Instagram account gets hacked.

Has Your Instagram Been Compromised?

There are numerous signs that your Instagram account might have been compromised. One of the most apparent is discovering you can't log in to your account, with a message indicating incorrect login details.

Another indication of account compromise includes unusual activity, such as the appearance of posts, reels, or stories that you didn't post. You may start getting direct messages from unfamiliar accounts, or your followers may suddenly receive strange messages, apparently from you, and possibly containing fraudulent links. You might even be alerted to a hack by Instagram itself, with login notifications appearing for devices or locations that are unfamiliar to you. You may also receive a warning message from Instagram support, informing you that your credentials have been changed, and a link to reverse the changes.

Actions to Take If Your Instagram is Hacked

If you do discover that your Instagram account has been compromised, swift action is necessary to minimize further damage. Here are some immediate steps to take.

If you can still log in to your account, you should update your password immediately, and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to prevent the hacker from regaining access easily. If you can't log in, follow the appropriate steps based on your account type. If you've received a message from Instagram stating that your email address has been modified, you may be able to correct this by clicking the “Secure my account” link in the message. You can also request a login link or security code to be sent to the email address or phone number associated with your account. If you can no longer access these, you can seek assistance via Instagram help. You may be required to verify your identity by submitting a video of yourself.

Step 1: Update Your Password

If you can still access your account, update your password immediately to a secured and unique one, avoiding reuse with other accounts.

Additionally, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to ensure that the hacker cannot easily regain access to your account. These actions should only take a few minutes.

Step 2: Remove Suspicious Activity

The hackers may have been sending messages from your account, installing apps, or logging in using their devices.

If this is the case, remove any apps that you didn't install, and check the devices logged into your account by navigating to the Settings page and removing any unauthorized devices or devices listed in locations other than yours.

Step 3: Inform Contacts

One of the hacker's main objectives is to gather more victims, often utilizing hacked accounts to distribute spam or try scamming your contacts by encouraging them to click on links to dubious websites.

Inform all your contacts immediately to prevent any potential damage. Warn them not to engage with any messages that appear to be from you, especially if they contain requests for money.

Step 4: Be More Vigilant in the Future

You should have already updated your password to something secure, enabled two-factor authentication (2FA), and signed up for login alerts from Instagram. Verify your identity by receiving login notifications, and review your third-party apps regularly to eliminate any unnecessary ones. Most importantly, avoid clicking on links in messages unless you are completely certain of their safety.

Regaining Control of Your Instagram Account

If you still have access to your Instagram account, following the steps above should help you regain control. If not, the process might become slightly more complex.

If you receive an email from security@mail.instagram.com informing you that your email address has been changed, you can likely restore this change by clicking the "Secure my account" link in the message. You can also request a login link to be sent to the email address or phone number associated with your account. If you can no longer access these, seek help from Instagram by explaining your situation. If Instagram cannot verify your identity through photos on your account, you may be asked to record a video of yourself as proof. Unless the hacker has deleted your account for some reason, it should be possible to recover it in some way.

Having your Instagram account hacked isn't exactly a fun experience. But let me shed some light on the situation, it's typically not that hard to regain control and enhance your security measures for future prevention.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Occurs If Your Instagram Gets Hacked and They Swap Out the Email?

If hackers manage to invade your account and alter the associated email, you'll probably receive an alert from the company. This message will contain a link you can use to revert the change. You can also request a login link or security code.

It's worth noting that while hackers may be able to change the Instagram email linked to your account, it doesn't necessarily grant them access to your primary email account—unless, of course, you've used the same password following the law of bad password hygiene.

What Does It Mean If Your Instagram Locks Up After Trying to Confirm Identity?

If you can't sign into Instagram or it refuses to recognize your identity, don't panic. double-check if you've entered your details correctly, and avoid mistyping.

Otherwise, the reason may be that Instagram suspects you've engaged in questionable activity or logged in from numerous locations. If you believe this is the case, and you've done nothing wrong, then reach out to the company's help center.

Even if your Instagram account gets hacked, your other social media accounts should remain safe—as long as you don't share the same password or something extremely similar.

You should always strive to use unique, difficult-to-guess passwords for every site. If creating passwords is challenging, consider employing a password manager to safeguard them.

To prevent future incidents, it's essential to implement stronger security measures, such as using unique and complex passwords for each account and enabling two-factor authentication. This can help minimize the impact of hackers exploiting weaknesses in one platform, potentially leading to compromises in others.
Recognizing the importance of innovation in cybersecurity, platforms like Instagram are continually developing and implementing advanced security features. For instance, they are now offering options for biometric authentication and regular account security check-ups, which can help users stay one step ahead of potential hackers.