How to Protect Your Instagram Account In 2023? [5 Easy Steps]

5 Simple Steps to Protect Your Instagram Account

Are you a creator? Do you spend hours creating fascinating content and interacting with your followers? But what happens when the significant following you have so diligently built is taken away in seconds? When all your bubbling brand deals and precious memories are all gone?

It could be one of the most devastating experiences. As much as you love to put your personal and creative life out in public, someone invading your privacy is not what you would want. Sadly, this is what many creators and users have faced- hacking.

However, knowing that some simple practices can help you secure your account and prevent hacking is good. But before diving into it, let’s discuss how you can build a strong social media presence with Social zinger

How to boost your brand with social media?

Social media has become a platform to boost your business. Not only building awareness about what your products and services are, but also to get connected with relevant audience. Every second there is someone investing time and effort in social media for boosting its business. You can take help from companies like Social Zinger which can help to improve your social media presence. Their reputation in the market speaks all about their brilliant services. They are one of the best in what they do and can strengthen your social media profiles. Whether it be youtube, facebook, Twitter, or instagram, you can rely on them to handle it for you. You can just relax and see your brand growing with ease.

Why Do You Need to Safeguard Your Instagram-Account?

There is no new information for why you must protect your account from hackers. Nonetheless, it is good to know the reasons in detail.

- Preserve Online Presence

IG hackers may try accessing your business or personal account, spam numerous unsolicited posts to your followers, and publicize services or products. Some hackers also post captions and images that damage your account's reputation.

Some followers may even report, block, or unfollow your account. Securing your account ensures your audience only has a positive experience with your account.

- Protect Investment

From your precious time to your budget, your investment and hard work for growing your account and securing your business' position on the platforms matter. However, hacking interferes with your investment, lowers engagement and following, and even causes your business campaigns to fail.

Some hackers even get to the point of asking for massive amounts of money in return for your account.

- Safeguard Personal Data

From your passwords to your messages, every piece of information becomes accessible to hackers. It jeopardizes your online reputation and enables hackers to access details about your business, passwords, and even your address or bank.

Hence, you must learn to secure your account to prevent all these things from happening.

5 Steps to Keep Your Instagram-Account Safe

It is better to play safe than regret it later. Here are a few simple yet the most effective steps that allow you to protect your account and prevent hacking.

- Turn on the Two-Factor Authentication

An extra layer of protection is always appreciated, and that's what Two-Factor Authentication does. When someone tries to hack your account using an unfamiliar device, Instagram will ask for a unique code.

2FA makes it difficult for a hacker to access your account with a password and username. You will receive the verification code on the authenticator app or your phone. It is also time-sensitive.

To turn 2FA on, visit your profile - settings and privacy - Accounts Centre - password and security - two-factor authentication. Next, pick the account you want to turn it on for. Next, follow the instructions and choose a suitable security method.

- Use Password Manager

While 2FA is effective, it is not invincible. Hence, the second step involves using a password manager. It acts as a vault guarding all your login details. You do not need to remember every password. Instead, you can use a master password for your manager.

The managers automatically fill in your login credentials for legitimate domains. It helps increase security and makes things easy. It is an excellent tool to safeguard your account against hacking.

During mail scams, when you click on a fake website link identical to Instagram, the security tool will protect you by informing you about the unfamiliar site.

- Never Allow a Third-Party App to Get Your Data

Knowingly or unknowingly, as you have used your account over the years, you may have let third-party applications handle or enhance your IG account. These apps access your account and private data.

With several third-party apps accessing your data, the more chances you have of getting your information stolen or your account hacked. Hence, you must remove any authorized apps that you no longer require. Ensure you only allow access to the necessary apps.

To remove these apps, visit your profile > settings and privacy. Scroll down to access website permission > Apps and websites. You will find a list of active authorized apps. Revoke access for all the applications that you wish to remove.

- Try to Keep Your Personal Info Private

If you have an account comprising all your personal information, it is best to turn it into a private account. You can keep your photos and personal info open to only your close friends and the number of people who follow you. Thus, only those of your friends will know about your activities.

To make your account private. You can access your mobile app and visit your profile - settings and privacy. Scroll to "Account Privacy" and turn on "Private Account". These steps will allow only your followers to see your shared videos, photos, location pages, hashtags, and your following list and followers.

- Constantly Monitor Your Account

It is best to keep monitoring your account to check for hacking. You can check your account's past activity, such as logins, password changes, logouts, etc. To view your Instagram data, click on the three lines at the top right of your profile and access Your activity.

Select Account History to see past changes like bio, phone, password, email, etc. You may filter the history with options on top of the screen. You can also find Download Your Information options in the section for Your activity. It will take around 30 days to get the download link.

Ensure to look for any unfamiliar activities on your account to see if someone else has access to your account. If so, change to a new password instantly.

Is There Any Way to Recover a Hacked Instagram Account?

You can follow a few steps to try to recover your hacked account. However, keep your expectations low as the process is slow and sometimes unsuccessful. Many who used IG support for hacked accounts had no positive results.

The support page says to check if you have an email from security@mail.instagram.com to "revert this change." Next, you can request IG to send a login link. However, the hackers may set up a 2FA for the account.

So, what more can you do?

Submit your face's video. It may sound weird, but this is a successful way to get your account. Visit your login page, enter your username, and select Forgot Password > Need more help? Next, pick the account you wish to verify.

With the prompt, choose text message for recovery code. If the hacker has a 2FA set up, it will ask for a different code. Now, select Try Another Way. Here, you can choose Get Support and select the My Account Was Hacked option.

Then choose the option for Yes, I have a photo of myself in my account and enter your email ID to Submit. With the selfie recording option, you can follow the required steps. Insta will contact you as soon as possible. It may work if you have your picture on Instagram.

Conclusion

Getting hacked is one of the most stressful and devastating things that could ever happen to an individual. They are at risk of losing their private information. Meanwhile, creators can especially lose their years of effort to build a considerable following, future brand deals, and online reputation.

Hence, securing your account must be your priority. For this reason, you must turn on two-factor authentication, use a password manager, remove third-party apps, make your personal information private, and keep a check on your account.