If you’ve ever had your Instagram account hacked, you know how frustrating and alarming it can be. A hacked Instagram account not only puts your personal information at risk but also damages your online presence. In this blog post, we’ll share the story of how we helped a client recover their hacked Instagram account and provide you with actionable steps you can follow if you ever find yourself in a similar situation.
Why Your Instagram Account Got Hacked
In many cases, hackers gain access to accounts by using phishing tactics. In this instance, our client clicked on a phishing email that asked for their Instagram username, password, and other sensitive information. Once the hackers had this information, they gained full access to the account and immediately changed both the username and password.
Phishing attacks like this one are common and serve as a reminder of how important it is to stay vigilant and never share your login details, especially when prompted through suspicious emails.
Step 1: Identifying the Hack and Taking Action
As soon as we realized our client’s Instagram account had been hacked, our first step was to attempt to regain control. However, the hackers had already initiated two-factor authentication (2FA), which blocked us from accessing the account.
Many users might think that the answer to “how to recover a hacked Instagram” is simply resetting the password. While this step can help in many cases, the hackers had already changed the phone number linked to the account, making the usual password reset ineffective.
Step 2: Reaching Out to Facebook Support
Since Instagram is owned by Facebook, we initially reached out to their customer support team. Given our client’s substantial ad spend, we hoped that they would be able to assist more effectively, as they are often more responsive to clients who use paid ads.
However, we quickly learned that the customer support representatives were not as knowledgeable as expected. Despite their claims to be “ad specialists,” they were unable to resolve the issue, and we found ourselves going in circles with their ineffective support.
Step 3: Researching the Solution
At this point, we knew we had to take matters into our own hands. We scoured the web, researching various blogs, Reddit threads, and YouTube videos in hopes of finding a solution. After spending hours investigating, we stumbled upon a helpful video that introduced us to the video confirmation process.
This process allows Instagram to use facial recognition to verify account ownership. It wasn’t a quick fix, but it gave us hope.
Step 4: Video Confirmation and Regaining Access
Once we learned about video confirmation, we sent the information to our client. Unfortunately, the first attempt didn’t work right away. But after several tries and further communication with Instagram support, we finally regained access to the account.
While the process was long and stressful, it was the solution we had been searching for.
How to Protect Your Instagram from Hacks
If there’s one key takeaway from this experience, it’s this: always enable two-factor authentication on your Instagram account. This simple step significantly enhances the security of your account and can protect you from the majority of hacking attempts.
In addition, regularly reviewing your security settings, being cautious of phishing attempts, and staying up to date with Instagram’s security features will help ensure your account remains safe.
Final Tips for Securing Your Instagram Account:
– Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)for added protection.
– Avoid clicking on suspicious emails or links.
– Regularly review your account activity and security settings.
– Use a strong, unique password that includes letters, numbers, and symbols.
By following these tips, you can reduce the likelihood of your Instagram account being compromised. And if the worst happens, you’ll know exactly how to recover a hacked Instagram account and protect your valuable online presence.
Has your Instagram account ever been hacked? Share your experience and let us know how you managed to recover it in the comments below!