Because Instagram is one of the most popular social networks, it is also one of the sites targeted by thousands of hacking attacks. Its large number of users makes the platform particularly attractive for phishing and similar malicious actions.
If your Instagram account was recently hacked, you've come to the right place. We will share everything there is to know about this unfortunate situation. Regardless of whether you still have control over your password or not, there is hope that your account can be saved as long as it is not permanently deleted. Let's start with the basics.
My Instagram Has Been Hacked – What Should I Do?
Signs that your Instagram accounts have been hacked can appear in several ways. Maybe someone broke into your Instagram account and posted content on your behalf. Or maybe you only realized there was a break-in when you checked the Login Activity section. Worst-case scenario, you may have discovered that you lost access to your profile because the hacker changed your password, username, or maybe even deleted the account.
According to Instagram, there are different methods you can apply to recover your account after it has been hacked. We'll provide detailed instructions for each method below.
Find the email from Instagram
Did you receive an email from “[email protected]” notifying you that your email address has changed? If so, you can undo the action if you are not the one who tried to change the address. Simply select the "Undo this change" option in the message.
Maybe the hacker changed your password or other important account information. In this case, you can request an Instagram login link.
Request a login link
Instagram accounts are often hacked, which is why the platform has several ways to verify that you are the owner of the account. One of them sends a login link to your phone number or email address.
Here's how to make that request:
- Go to the Instagram login screen.
- Select "Get help signing in" for Android or "Forgot password?" for iPhone users.
- Enter your username, email address, and phone number associated with the hacked account.
- Press "Next".
- If you forgot any of the information from step 3, select "Need more help?" under the "Next" button and follow the instructions provided there.
- Choose where you want to receive the login link. This can be your email or your phone.
- Tap "Send Login Link".
- Follow the instructions in your phone (SMS) or email sign-in link.
Alternatively, you can request a code from Instagram to verify ownership of your account.
Just follow the steps below:
- Go to the login screen and select "Get help logging in".
- Enter your account details.
- Tap "Need more help?" »
- If you have multiple Instagram accounts, choose the account you need help with.
- Select where you want to receive the code, then tap "Send Security Code".
identity verification
If you submit a verification request for an account that doesn't contain any photos of you, you'll receive an automated email from Instagram's support team. They'll ask you to enter the email address or phone number you used to create your account, as well as the device you used (Android, iPhone, iPad, etc.).
If your Instagram has photos of you, the support team will ask you to send a selfie video in which you turn your head in different directions. This method will help them determine if you are the real owner of your account.
Instagram will review your request and get back to you as soon as verification is complete. If they deny the request, you can always submit a new one.
If none of the steps below help you regain control of your Instagram account, try one of the methods below:
- Send yourself a password reset email.
- Contact Instagram using this online form.
Instagram was hacked by Ray Ban
A common scam circulating on Instagram in recent years involves too-good-to-be-true deals from accounts selling Ray-Ban sunglasses. One thing to note – if an offer sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. So it's best to avoid all sorts of publications that offer ridiculously low prices on otherwise expensive products.
If your Instagram account is hacked by the Ray-Ban scam, you need to act fast. Reset your password and enable two-factor authentication. For instructions on how to enable two-factor authentication, see the “How to protect against hacking in the future” section below.
Find a strong password and be sure to tell your friends and family not to click on any links from your Ray-Ban offer account.
My account was deleted during the hack
If you believe your account was disabled during the hack, you can appeal the action by following the steps below:
- Open the Instagram app on your phone.
- Enter your username and password.
- Follow the instructions on the screen.
If a disabled message appears, there may be a simple connection problem. However, if the hacker deleted the account, there is no way to restore it. Instead, you can sign up for a new Instagram account using the same email address.
How to protect yourself from hacking in the future
How many times have you heard it: "Use a strong password that includes at least one capital letter, numbers, symbols, etc. »? Although a strong password is a major obstacle to the security of your Instagram account, it often takes more than that. The safest way to protect your Instagram account from being hacked again is to enable two-factor authentication.
Enable two-factor authentication
This powerful security tool asks you to enter a security code from an app or sends the code to your mobile phone each time you log in from a new device. So even if a hacker breaks into your account from another device using your password, they will also need to access your phone's SMS inbox to get the code. This makes it nearly impossible for the hacker to complete the attempt.
To enable two-factor authentication, visit your Instagram's "Security" page, then navigate to "Two-Factor Authentication" and follow the on-screen instructions.
Keep an eye on login activity
You can access the list of all devices currently connected to your account by following the steps below:
- Go to Instagram's "Settings" page.
- Go to “Security”, then “Login activity”.
As you go through the list, be sure to look for any unknown devices or locations your account is logged in from. Tap any activity you find suspicious and select "Sign Out".
Don't forget to change your password when you're done logging out of suspicious devices.
Stay away from phishers
Instagram has a useful feature called “Emails from Instagram” which allows you to see what emails have been sent to you by the company. Use this feature whenever you suspect someone is trying to access your account by sending you emails claiming to be from Instagram. Hackers may falsely alert you that someone is trying to break into your account and that you need to change your password immediately. To check if this email is from Instagram, go to "Settings", then "Security", then "Emails from Instagram".
You'll see a "Security" tab with all the emails the platform has sent you in the past two weeks.
If the email alert about an attempted login or password change is from Instagram, you should act immediately by changing your login details.
Secure your Instagram account
If someone hacked into your Instagram account and you managed to regain control of it, you are one of the lucky ones. The experience can often turn into a long and uncertain wait, especially if you involve Instagram's support team. To avoid falling victim to malicious attacks, make sure to secure your account with a strong password and two-factor authentication. Also, never click on unverified links and offers that seem too good to be true.
How did you restore your Instagram account after a hacking attack? Share your experience in the comments below.
