Instagram account hacked? Important feature issued for users, did you get it? Check now

Instagram account hacked? That is a question that runs through every user's mind every time s/he comes across reports of cybercriminals stealing social media accounts. Like any other social media network, Instagram users too are at risk of being hacked due to various reasons including weak passwords and social engineering. Accounts are hacked in order to harvest personal data or to sell profiles with many followers. While Instagram users must be careful about their passwords, the social media company itself is looking to take some action too and in fact, has issued a warning. Also, in order to keep its users safe, Instagram has announced a new Security Checkup feature. Notably, it is meant for those who have been hacked and this feature will be displayed when they log on to the app.

Instagram explained on its blog that it was introducing the new Security Checkup feature to help users who have been hacked in the past by explaining how to perform tasks like checking their login activity, reviewing their profile information and confirming their account recovery details like their email and phone number. The company is also urging users to use two-factor authentication. The company also revealed that it would support sending login codes via WhatsApp in select countries in the coming weeks, but did not disclose any additional details about this feature.

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Here’s why Instagram has added the security check feature

For those wondering why Instagram is rolling out this feature to users whose accounts were compromised in the past, the answer is quite straightforward. “Over the past few months, we’ve seen a rise in malicious accounts DMing people to try and access sensitive information like account passwords. They may tell you that your account is at risk of being banned, that you are violating our policies around intellectual property, or that your photos are being shared elsewhere. These messages are often scams and violate our policies. Instagram will never send you a DM,” Instagram says, urging users to report the content and block the account.

How to use the new security checkup feature on Instagram

If your account has been compromised in the past, you should see the prompt to perform a security check in the future, when you log in. Unfortunately, there is no way to start the checkup manually, so you will have to wait until it rolls out to all users. It is important to note that Instagram will only get in touch with you about your account via the ‘Emails from Instagram’ section in the app’s settings, which shows a list of every authentic email sent by the company regarding your account. Users can also enable a feature called Login Requests in their settings, which will show an alert when their account is logged into an unknown device or from an unknown location – and allows them to take action.

The new Security Checkup feature is not available for all users

It’s not clear why Instagram hasn’t enabled the Security checkup feature for all users at the moment, but it is possible that the company is aiming to secure weaker accounts first. Such features are not a new concept – companies like Google and Facebook have offered users the ability to shore up their privacy and security for years now. But Instagram is a relatively newer platform, so it is good to see the arrival of this feature, that walks users through the various security settings in the app and urges them to keep their security information updated.