How to Keep Your Instagram Account Secure

Four easy steps that you can take right now to keep your Instagram account safe and prevent it from being hacked

If you haven’t known a friend or acquaintance who has had their Instagram account hacked, you’re in the minority. 

1). Here are some common scams and red flags:

? You get a DM asking you to click a link, even if it’s from a friend, that seems strange.
? You get a DM from an account claiming to be someone from Instagram
? You get a DM from a friend that seems random or out of context talking about something like investments (or you see strange stories posted on their account)

If you are unsure if these are legit, simply copy and paste the text into Google with the word “Scam” and see what comes up. Here are two popular scams going around right now:

2). Third-Party Apps

You should also use caution when giving anyone your Instagram password like unverified third-party apps. If you are unsure, simply Google “Is XYZ a verified Facebook business partner.” If nothing comes up, don’t use it.

Popular approved third-party apps include things like Planoly (our Instagram Management agency’s choice), Later, Canva, and more. If you want to check what third-party apps already have access to your Instagram, this article shows you how.

3). Turn On Two-Factor Authentication

One of the easiest ways to protect your Instagram account from being hacked is to turn on two-factor authentication. Here’s how!

4). Request to Download a Backup of All of Your Data and Posts

Another thing you can do is to request to download a backup of all of your Instagram content, just in case. This link only works on desktop and you won’t be able to request a backup from your phone. Click here to request to download your content.

What to do if you DO get Hacked?

Check out this article from Instagram Help Center HERE.

Summary

• Be cautious of DMs and copy/paste the DM into Google with the word “Scam” 
• Ensure any third-party app you share your Instagram information with is a verified Facebook business partner
• Turn on two-factor authentication
• Download a backup of all of your Instagram data just in case

*Bonus tip: If you haven’t already, START. YOUR. EMAIL. LIST. If you need help creating your first opt-in or lead magnet, I highlight recommend Belema and her team from Nabily.io. It is way less expensive than you think to outsource this task, and if the tech piece is what is holding you up, you can’t afford to wait.