If you’re like most people, you probably use Instagram on a daily basis and you probably also have had your fair share of social media mishaps. Whether it’s accidentally posting something you shouldn’t have or simply forgetting your password, we’ve all been there. But what happens if your Instagram account is hacked?
Most hacking occurs through third-party apps that gain access to your account through your login credentials. Once they have your login information, they can do whatever they want with your account. The hacker could post offensive or inappropriate content, change your password and even delete your account entirely.
What To Do About a Hacked Instagram Account
If you’ve been hacked, don’t worry – it’s not the end of the world. There are steps you can take to recover your account and get back to posting pictures of your coffee and cats.
First things first, try logging into your account from a different device or browser. If you can’t remember your password, you can request a password reset through Instagram’s website.
It’s possible that the hacker changed the email associated with the account if you are unable to reset your password. You should receive an email from Instagram notifying you of the change if someone tries to log in from a strange location, reset your password or change the email address associated with your account. If you receive one of these emails, you can try to undo this change by clicking on “revert this change”.
If you’re still having trouble accessing your account, you can try contacting Instagram directly. To do this, simply go to the Instagram Help Center and fill out the form. Be sure to include as much detail as possible, such as when you think your account was hacked and what steps you’ve already taken to try and recover it. They may ask you to provide the phone number or email address that you used to create the account, or a selfie video to verify your identity.
Unfortunately, if someone has completely deleted your account, it is unlikely that you will be able to recover it. You can try contacting Instagram to see if they can recover your account. However, once it’s deleted, it’s likely gone.
How to Secure Your Account
Once you’ve regained access to your account, be sure to take some extra steps to secure it. Confirm that the phone number and email address in your accounts settings is correct. Remove linked accounts that you don’t recognize and revoke access to third party apps.
Finally, it’s crucial to enable multi factor authentication and choose a strong passphrase to protect your account from future hackers. For more tips on how to keep your account safe, check out our articles on multi factor authentication and creating strong passphrases.