Key Takeaways

• Instagram hacking methods involve social engineering and malicious software, such as keyloggers and phishing tactics.
• Third-party apps and compromised platforms can also be used to hack Instagram accounts.
• Password problems and in-app scams can leave your Instagram account vulnerable to hacking. Stay vigilant and take steps to secure your account.

Instagram is one of the most popular social media apps, so of course, it is a big target for cybercriminals who want to hack into accounts.

So how do people hack your Instagram? What are the consequences of this happening? And what can you do to secure your Instagram account?

How Does Instagram Get Hacked?

Instagram hacking happens in several ways. Many attempts involve social engineering, which manipulates users whose accounts are susceptible to attacks.

These are the most common methods of hacking Instagram profiles.

How Do People Hack Instagram With Malicious Software?

Some hackers infect computers with keylogging software. It records anything someone types, allowing unauthorized parties to capture your Instagram login details that way. Alternatively, malicious software could get on your computer after you click a suspicious link or download a dangerous attachment.

Numerous fraudulent websites use phishing tactics to learn passwords or encourage people to sign up to access accounts.

Determined cybercriminals can target accounts to crack them, but obviously, the software they use is illegal in most countries. In some cases, the software itself is fraudulent too, used to trick people who want to get into someone else's profile into falling victim themselves.

How Do Instagram Accounts Get Hacked Through Third-Party Apps?

Instagram hacks also happen indirectly. Cybercriminals could take over a third-party platform that some people use to access Instagram, compromising all the associated account details in the process.

This is possible through Instagram integrations, as well as linked platforms such as Facebook.

How Do People Get Hacked on Instagram Due to Password Problems?

If you use the same password for another account, and it's part of a data leak, cybercriminals could hack into your account using this same password.

Alternatively, if your password is too easy for hackers to guess, your account is at risk.

How Does Instagram Get Hacked Through In-App Scams?

Some hackers trick people into giving up their account details by orchestrating scams. One of the most common tactics used to hack passwords involves people receiving Instagram messages saying their friends made them gifts. However, the associated link sends people to an external site that steals their passwords.

Cybercriminals also target Instagram and Facebook users with Cash App scams. They promise to send people $850, but experts say falling for this offer could lead to identity theft.

How Do People Hack Instagram Accounts Without Cybersecurity Knowledge?

It’s not always skilled hackers breaking into Instagram accounts. How can someone hack your Instagram account if they aren’t a cybersecurity expert? One of the main ways is through purposeful or unintentional device access combined with automatic logins.

Instagram can store information for multiple accounts. However, you can only access them one at a time. Maybe you often let your housemate or a significant other use your phone to access Instagram themselves. If you later have a falling-out, and they know your password, that party could hack your Instagram.

A similar situation could happen if someone steals your phone, you lose it, or an unauthorized person gets access to your email. These outcomes become problematic if you have the two-factor authentication (2FA) feature activated for Instagram.

Having access to your email or phone could provide a hacker with the 2FA verification code they need to log in to your account without knowing the password. They could then access the account and change the password to something only they know.

What Happens When Someone Hacks Your Instagram Account?

The reason for the hack and the methodology used determines what happens after an account hack. In cases where the hacker is someone close to you, you may not notice any changes to your account if the person solely did it to spy on you.

In cases where professional cybercriminals have hacked Instagram profiles, there may be significant changes to the account and its accessibility. These users will likely find themselves locked out of the account. If someone else controls it, they can change the passwords to keep you locked out of the account.

How Do People’s Instagram Accounts Get Hacked When They Are Influencers?

Cybercriminals often take a particular interest in hacking the accounts of influencers. When people have tens of thousands of followers or more, malicious parties could have a broader reach by compromising those accounts.

Sometimes, internet criminals use special software that launches a brute-force attack against those accounts. Regardless of how the takeover happens, some Instagram influencers reported on BuzzFeed News that contacting the site itself doesn’t often help. Desperation may make them resort to hiring white-hat hackers to resolve the problem.

In some cases, hackers demand a ransom for the account. In other cases, they may change significant details on the account, such as images. Hackers often sell off accounts with many followers or hijack the accounts of specific well-known people for profit.

What To Do if Your Instagram Gets Hacked

Instagram’s security features get progressively more advanced in response to hacked user accounts. These changes make it more difficult for hackers to access accounts and easier for affected users to regain access.

If you believe someone has hacked your account, the first step is to report it to Instagram. They will record all the details, examine the case, and assist in getting the service restored as quickly as possible.

The hacker may have also logged you out of your account and changed the password. Select Get Help Logging In (on an Android device) or Forgotten Password? (on an Apple product). You’ll then need to verify your account by entering one of the identity confirmation details, such as a phone number.

If you do not have any of the requested information, choose Need More Help? and follow the on-screen instructions. This is the first step to contacting Instagram’s support team, but you must enter a security code to go further. It goes to your email address or phone number.

Verifying Your Identity

The methods of confirming your identity vary depending on if the Instagram account in question contains pictures of you. If it does not, Instagram’s support team sends an automated email requesting that you provide the following information.

• The email address or phone number used when creating the account
• The type of device used during the account’s creation (such as an Android phone or an iPad)

If the compromised account has photos of you, Instagram uses a video-selfie method for verification. It requires turning your head in different directions while creating the clip. The Instagram team reviews the video within two business days.

Passing this test results in getting an email from Instagram containing a link to reset your password. Conversely, you may receive an email requiring the submission of another selfie video.

Additionally, Instagram's Recently Deleted folder is a helpful feature that restores deleted posts, stories, and reels. Whenever you remove your Instagram content, they first go and stay in the folder for 30 days before being permanently erased.

If you suspect an account hack but can still log in, take the following steps to secure your account:

• Change your password. Passwords should be unique to Instagram and strong to deter hackers from guessing the correct one.
• Enable two-factor authentication. This requires an extra code when you’re attempting to log into your account; cybercriminals would need access to that device or service to sign in too.
• Confirm that your contact details (email address and phone number) linked to your account are correct. If you get an email regarding unknown changes to your Instagram account, verify that it's real by trying to log in on a different window. Otherwise, it could be a phishing scam. Contact Instagram separately, without clicking on any suspicious links.
• Check which linked accounts and third-party apps have access to your Instagram. You can do this in the Security section of your Instagram account, which shows your log inactivity. Remove access from suspicious accounts and apps. You can see the geographic locations of where you’re logged in and which devices are being used. If there are any that you do not recognize, you can log out of them.

Once you have recovered your account, perform a detailed security checkup on Instagram to prevent issues like this from occurring in the future.

Protect Your Instagram Account From Hacking

There are steps you can take to prevent hackers from gaining access to your account.

These steps are simple to take and are more than worth your while: a hacked account can wreak havoc on your privacy and security. Nip it in the bud by taking simple precautions.