If your Instagram account was hacked, it is essential to act fast to recover it and keep yourself safe.
Below you will find a detailed step by step guide to help you take the right actions and avoid problems in the future.
Reset Your Password Immediately
The first thing you should do when you notice your account was compromised is to try to reset your password. This can help you take back control of your profile before the hacker makes more serious changes.
Steps to reset your password:
- Open the Instagram app and, on the login screen, tap “Forgot password?”
- Enter the email, phone number, or username linked to the account.
- You will receive a link by email or SMS to reset your password.
- Choose a new password that is secure and strong, combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
If you still have access to your email or phone number, this can be the fastest way to recover your account. Make sure the new password is completely different from the old one.
Check Recent Activity and Log Out of Suspicious Devices
After resetting your password, it is important to review the recent activity on your account and log out of any device you do not recognize. This stops the hacker from continuing to access your profile.
Steps to review recent activity:
- Go to your profile and tap the three lines in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings” and then “Security”.
- Under “Login activity”, you will see a list of devices and locations where your account is connected.
- If you spot a suspicious device, tap “Log out” next to it.
This step is essential to make sure that, even if the hacker still has your old password, they are disconnected from your account.
Reverse Email or Phone Number Changes
If the hacker managed to change the email or phone number on your account, Instagram will send a notification to the original email with the option to reverse those changes.
Steps to reverse the changes:
- Check the inbox of the original email linked to the account.
- Look for an email from Instagram with a subject like “Your email address was changed” or similar.
- Inside that email you will find a link to reverse the change made by the hacker.
- Click the link and follow the instructions to restore your original information.
Acting fast on this step is essential, since it stops the hacker from taking full control of the account.
Use Instagram’s Account Recovery Tools
If you could not recover your account with the previous methods, Instagram offers a recovery option through support. This tool is useful when the hacker changed all of your contact information.
Steps to use the recovery tool:
- Go to the Instagram login screen and tap “Need more help?”
- Enter the email, username, or phone number linked to your account.
- Follow Instagram’s instructions to provide additional information confirming you are the account owner.
- In some cases, Instagram may ask you to send a selfie holding a code sent to your email.
This process can take some time, but it is an effective way to prove you are the true owner of the account and regain access.
Revoke Third Party App Access
One of the reasons accounts get hacked is the use of insecure third party apps. These apps often request invasive permissions and can compromise the security of your account.
Steps to revoke access:
- Open the settings of your Instagram profile.
- Go to “Security” and select “Apps and websites”.
- In the “Active” section, you will see a list of all the apps with access to your account.
- Remove access from any app you do not recognize or that is not essential.
Revoking access from suspicious apps can prevent future intrusions and protect your personal information.
Turn On Two Factor Authentication
To protect your account against future attacks, it is widely recommended to turn on two factor authentication (2FA). With this feature, besides entering your password, you will need a verification code sent to your phone every time you log in from a new device.
Steps to turn on two factor authentication:
- Open Instagram settings and go to “Security”.
- Select “Two factor authentication”.
- Choose whether you prefer to receive the code by SMS or through an authentication app, such as Google Authenticator.
- Follow the instructions to complete the setup.
This step adds an extra layer of security, making it much harder for hackers to access your account, even if they know your password.
Create a Secure and Strong Password
One of the simplest ways to protect your account is to create a strong and unique password. Avoid using passwords that are easy to guess, such as birth dates or family names. Combine uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Tips to create a secure password:
- Avoid common words or sequences like “123456” or “password”.
- Use at least 12 characters.
- Create passwords that have no connection to your personal information, such as birthdays.
- Never reuse the same password across several accounts.
Changing your password periodically is also a good practice to keep your account protected.
Contact Instagram Support
If all the previous attempts failed and you still cannot recover your account, contact Instagram support directly. The platform offers assistance for problems related to intrusions and can help you restore access.
Steps to contact support:
- Open the Instagram help center directly from the app or from the official website.
- Complete the account recovery form providing all the possible details about the problem.
- Follow the instructions sent by support to complete the process.
Instagram support can take a while to respond, but it has tools to verify your identity and help you recover your account.
Protect Yourself Against Future Attacks
Once you recover your account, it is essential to adopt preventive measures to avoid being hacked again. Besides turning on two factor authentication and creating a strong password, be careful when using third party apps and when clicking on suspicious links.
Tips to protect yourself against future attacks:
- Avoid giving your credentials to any app or site that is not official Instagram.
- Be wary of emails or messages that ask for login information.
- Do not click on unknown links sent through direct messages or emails that look suspicious.
Keeping your account secure is an ongoing effort, and following these tips will help you protect your information and avoid future intrusions.
By following these steps, you will have a much better chance of recovering your hacked account and protecting yourself against future attacks. Security on social media is essential, and with the right measures, you can make sure your account stays protected.