Instagram is one of the most popular ways to share and view your life, business, and personal stories with friends and strangers around the world. But Instagram accounts get hacked all the time! So let’s find out how Instagram accounts get hacked and, more importantly, how to secure yours!
Instagram accounts get hacked by malware that infects your device, cyber-attacks, stolen passwords, personal data, or phones. In order to protect your Instagram account, you should create a unique password, not click on any unknown messages or links, and keep your phone close by!
In this article, we are going to find out how many Instagram accounts get hacked a year, as well as the most common ways they get hacked, how to protect your Instagram account, and even what to do if you get hacked! So keep reading because everything you need to know is right here!
How Do Instagram Accounts Get Hacked?
Over 1.4 billion people use Instagram every month. And of those billions of people, more than 25% have reported getting hacked at some point! That’s 350,000,000 Instagram hacks.
While these numbers are intense, there are really only 4 ways in which hackers get into your Instagram account:
Cyber Attacks
As you may already know, most of your apps and profiles are linked on your devices, and malicious hackers can use this web of information to access your Instagram account.
By using third-party app infiltration or a hacking program that gains access to your screen, anyone with a knowledge of cyber-security can get into your account fairly easily.
Malware via Messages
One of the most common ways that hackers get into Instagram accounts is by sending malware to your device through a text or direct message on the app.
Often, by just opening the message, the malware begins to download, and the information on your phone will be visible and accessible to the hacker.
Gaining Your Personal Information And Passwords
If your password is the same for several platforms, gaining access to one means they can log in to all your profiles.
Most hackers gain this information through malware or cyber hacking, but some simply guess!
They Stole Your Phone
It’s important to understand that if you have your Instagram set to automatically log in, anyone who holds or steals your phone will have access to your account.
Even if they only have it for a few minutes, they could change the password and log you out so only they have access.
Now that you know the 4 ways that hackers get into an Instagram account, let’s talk about what you can do to prevent it from happening to you!
How to Secure Your Instagram Account
In order to protect your Instagram account from hackers, there are a few tried and true tactics you should employ.
- Change your password regularly to a unique sequence. Enable two-step verification within the Instagram settings menu. Check your personal information. If it has been changed or you get a message from Instagram requesting a change, contact Instagram directly immediately. Within the security section of your Instagram account, ensure your account isn’t linked with other apps. Never click on any unknown links or messages either on your device or through Instagram, as they may be sent by a hacker trying to infiltrate.
Now, these are things you can do ahead of time to keep your Instagram account safe. But you’re probably also wondering how to know if your account has been hacked (and what to do next!)
How Do You Know if Your Account Has Been Hacked?
Sometimes, it’s hard to even tell if your Instagram account has been hacked!
But here are a few ways you can immediately tell if your Instagram account was infiltrated by a scammer, hacker, or even a friend:
Your password and login details won’t work. Often, when someone hacks an Instagram account, they immediately change the password so that the owner cannot get back in.
Check the login locations of your account on a regular basis; if there is an unknown location, your Instagram has probably been hacked.Look out for any suspicious or surprising activity, such as likes or messages you didn’t send yourself.
If any of these problems are happening to you, unfortunately, you’ve most likely been hacked.
What to Do if Your Instagram Gets Hacked
Finally, and probably most importantly, you need to know what to do next if you believe your Instagram has been hacked.
The very first thing you need to do if your Instagram account was hacked is to contact Instagram. Not only can they help you recover your account, but they also need to know to try to stop it from happening again.
As well, if you are still logged in but see suspicious activity, you should change the password and log out immediately.
Getting Locked Out
If you can no longer access your Instagram even though you’re using the correct password, you can attempt to recover the account by reaching out to Instagram’s customer support team.
You should also disconnect your Instagram account from your other accounts by either changing the settings within the app or using a different email for the account to keep it safe!
Once you have your Instagram back, make sure you follow the instructions listed above to prevent future break-ins.
Final Thoughts
So, how do Instagram accounts get hacked? Either from cyber-attacks, malware infiltration, stolen passwords or personal data, or simply by using your own device to gain access to your account.
But now you know not only how Instagram accounts get hacked, but also how to tell if yours has been compromised, how to prevent hackers from gaining access, and what to do if it does happen to you.
