Instagram launches security check feature for hacked accounts

Instagram has launched a new “security check” feature that will guide people whose accounts may have been hacked through the steps to secure their account.

The Facebook-owned image-sharing website says the new functionality includes checking login activity, reviewing profile information, and updating retrieval contact details.

The company says this is another way to make sure accounts are as secure as possible, but also recommends that users turn on two-factor authentication to reduce the risk of hackers.

This is where a phone number or an authenticator app like Duo Mobile or Google Authentication is required when signing in from a new device.

Instagram users will also be able to secure their account using two-factor authentication via WhatsApp in select countries in the coming weeks.

The social media giant says the security check feature will help users secure their accounts if they are at risk of being hacked or have already been hacked.

They do this by encouraging some personal accountability, including two-factor authentication measures and updating contact details.

They also provided ‘red flag’ advice, including if you get a direct message from the company, saying ‘Instagram will never send you a DM’.

This is in response to an increase in the number of malicious accounts sending DMs to people to try to access sensitive information such as account passwords.

These accounts may indicate to the user that their account is in danger of being banned, that they violate intellectual property policies, or that photos are being shared elsewhere for the purpose of gaining control of the account.

“These messages are often scams and violate our policies. Instagram will never send you a DM. When we find these kinds of scams, we take action against them, ”the company said.

“But we also encourage you to report content and block the account.

“We’ve been sending notifications to the top of people’s inboxes to alert them to these messages for the past 2 months.”

Instagram says that if they want to reach you to discuss the account, they will use the “Instagram Emails” tab in the settings.

They encouraged people to report any content or account they find questionable because while technology can spot new trends and techniques used by hackers and spammers, it doesn’t work every time.

“You can also report individual pieces of content to us by tapping the three dots above a post, holding a post or visiting an account and reporting directly from the profile,” Instagram wrote in a post. blog.

The sign-in request is the other feature that the company wants users to enable, it’s tied to two-factor authentication, alerting a user when someone tries to sign in to an account from a browser. or a device not previously used.

These alerts will show which device tried to connect and where it is located, allowing the user to immediately approve or deny a request from a device that is already connected.

“You can also view the list of devices that have recently logged into your Instagram account at any time under ‘Settings,’ ‘Security,’ ‘Login activity,’ Instagram said.

“If you don’t recognize a recent connection, you can disconnect from that location or device and let us know the connection was not you.” ”

Accounts that impersonate others, use their verification status to hack and target people, or generally engage in spam behavior in the hope of deceiving people on Instagram are breaking site rules.

“We are constantly improving our technology to detect and stop this behavior. “

To help people who are reporting these issues or who have been hacked, Instagram says it is improving its support inbox so users can find what happened to their reports.

“This includes the ability to easily see the status of anything you’ve ever reported on Instagram, see which posts broke our rules and how to appeal those decisions,” according to the firm.

“From there you can find a lot more information on the status of what you have reported to us. “