Top 5 Easy Steps How to Protect Your Instagram Account from Hackers 2023
Many people use Instagram daily to promote their personal or company brand or to connect with family and friends.
You’re busy creating content and engaging with your audience. Maybe you have multiple Instagram accounts as well as a host of other social media profiles. I get it. You don’t have time to worry about your account’s security.
However, after helping a client deal with a hacked account recently resulted in a stressful week for both of us, I’ve learned that it’s much easier to protect your Instagram account from hackers before you have a problem.
Why you need to protect your Instagram account from hackers 2023
While the answer may seem obvious, it’s also worth spelling out some of the reasons protecting your Instagram account from hackers is so important.
Protect your online reputation 2023
Instagram hackers may get into your business’s Instagram account (or your personal account) and spam your followers with junk posts (we’ve all seen the “Get a free iPhone” spam posts from hacked accounts) or post damaging images or captions that people may not know didn’t originate from your business. Both of these types of Instagram posts can tarnish your online reputation–leading followers to unfollow, report your account, or block you.
Protecting your Instagram account from hackers doesn’t just keep your account secure, it also helps you present a positive experience for your audience online.
Additionally, some hackers will hold your account for ransom and demand payment in order to return your access. You don’t want to have to pay hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars to get back into your account.
Keep your personal information secure from hackers
Whether hackers get into your personal or business Instagram account, they may get access to your personal information, messages, and passwords. This puts the rest of your online presence at risk and can result in hackers accessing sensitive information about you or your business, including your address, your passwords to important sites like your bank or website, and more.
How to know if your Instagram account was hacked?
Check these signs to see if someone has broken into your account or attempted to hack into it.
Verify your phone number and email address?
Your contact details are the two things Instagram hackers change first when breaking into an account since Instagram uses these for login information and security notifications. Make sure these are correct by reviewing here:
From your profile, go to Settings > Account > Personal Information.
From your profile, go to Settings > Account > Personal Information.
Review your account login activity in 2023
From your Instagram Profile, tap the hamburger menu button. Go to Settings > Security > Login Activity. This will show you the devices logged into your account and their locations. Make sure all activities are from you or a team member. In my example, two different iPads are logged into the account.Email notifications about new logins
You might receive an email alert when you’re logging in from a new location or using a different device. These are important reminders for you to double-check the account. Don’t forget.
If you don’t recognize one of these alerts your account may not be fully secure.
Ensure account security emails are from Instagram
Wondering if an email is really from Instagram? If you’re not sure it’s safer to check. Official Instagram emails about your account’s security are accessible for 14 days. Follow these steps to find them in your account.
If Instagram has emailed you about anything non-security related these emails will be found in the Other tab.
Note: Instagram emails are only distributed via your email address and are not sent by direct messaging.
5 steps How to protect your Instagram account from hackers
1. Create a strong password
Your best defense against hackers is creating a strong random password. Each account should have a unique password and not be shared with anyone outside of your social media marketing team.
With the growing length of passwords, I’d recommend using a password manager to track all of yours. Check out LastPass, 1Password, or Dashlane for their options. Plans depend on how many passwords you have.
If you need help in easily creating a 15-digit password to protect your Instagram account, use a password generator to make it strong.
Here’s an example from Passwords Generator. You can check the boxes to include symbols, numbers, and characters.
?Anti-hacker tip: Whenever a team member leaves or joins your team who’ll access the account, update your password. At that time, make sure that your team has the current Instagram password to avoid losing account access after a transition.
2. Use two-factor authentication
Next to a strong password, using two-factor authentication can help protect your Instagram account each time you log in. It’s worth a second step to help secure your account.
This extra layer of protection is easy to set up. Go to Settings > Two-Factor Authentication.
Choose how you want to receive your security code, either via an Authentication App if you use one, or by text message. Now, each time you log in a security code will be sent to your phone verifying your identity.
3. Remove unused third-party apps
Over the years you may have tried several third-party apps to enhance or manage your social media accounts.
It’s a good idea to remove apps you no longer use that are authorized to access your account. Even if you haven’t used an app in years, it can be a door into your account if hackers break into a third-party app’s database and the app still has your login credentials.
Go to Settings > Security > Apps and websites to review and remove unused apps.
4. Check email account security
Since your email address is part of your Instagram account login it helps to review your email account security.
Set up two-factor authentication and a strong password on your email account too. Avoid clicking any unknown links. If a company sends you an enticing email offer, verify it outside of the email. For example, you can call a company to verify an offer or Google their website to check it rather than click on an unknown link.
5. Back up your Instagram photos and videos
If hackers take control of your Instagram account, they may hide or delete some of your content. Make it a habit to back up your photos and videos as you create them before posting to Instagram.
Your best defense against hackers is creating a strong random password. Each account should have a unique password and not be shared with anyone outside of your social media marketing team.
With the growing length of passwords, I’d recommend using a password manager to track all of yours. Check out LastPass, 1Password, or Dashlane for their options. Plans depend on how many passwords you have.
If you need help in easily creating a 15-digit password to protect your Instagram account, use a password generator to make it strong.
Here’s an example from Passwords Generator. You can check the boxes to include symbols, numbers, and characters.
?Anti-hacker tip: Whenever a team member leaves or joins your team who’ll access the account, update your password. At that time, make sure that your team has the current Instagram password to avoid losing account access after a transition.
2. Use two-factor authentication
Next to a strong password, using two-factor authentication can help protect your Instagram account each time you log in. It’s worth a second step to help secure your account.
This extra layer of protection is easy to set up. Go to Settings > Two-Factor Authentication.
Choose how you want to receive your security code, either via an Authentication App if you use one, or by text message. Now, each time you log in a security code will be sent to your phone verifying your identity.
3. Remove unused third-party apps
Over the years you may have tried several third-party apps to enhance or manage your social media accounts.
It’s a good idea to remove apps you no longer use that are authorized to access your account. Even if you haven’t used an app in years, it can be a door into your account if hackers break into a third-party app’s database and the app still has your login credentials.
Go to Settings > Security > Apps and websites to review and remove unused apps.
4. Check email account security
Since your email address is part of your Instagram account login it helps to review your email account security.
Set up two-factor authentication and a strong password on your email account too. Avoid clicking any unknown links. If a company sends you an enticing email offer, verify it outside of the email. For example, you can call a company to verify an offer or Google their website to check it rather than click on an unknown link.
5. Back up your Instagram photos and videos
If hackers take control of your Instagram account, they may hide or delete some of your content. Make it a habit to back up your photos and videos as you create them before posting to Instagram.
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