Instagram is a lovely platform for sharing photos with friends, family, and the rest of the world, but it can also put your details at risk. But this does not have to be the case. It’s easy to keep yourself safe while still getting the most out of Instagram.
Here are five steps you can take to keep your account safe. There are guides for both web and mobile applications and notations that show where the iOS and Android apps differ.
Make your account private.
Converting your public account to a private one is a simple way to gain more privacy. This enables you to share photos with a select group of people while keeping them private from the rest of the world. And those you care for will be made aware of your decisions in this way.
On mobile
- To access your profile, tap the “person” icon in the lower-right corner of the page. Swipe to the left and press the gear icon in the Settings section that appears.
- Choose “Privacy and Security,” followed by “Account Privacy.”
- Switch on “Private Account.”
On the web
- After clicking the “man” icon in the upper-right corner, look for the gear icon next to your name.
- Choose “Privacy and Security,” followed by “Account Privacy.”
- Select the Private Account checkbox.
From now on, only your new followers will be able to see your tweets. Anyone who wishes to follow you must first submit.
Block specific followers
You may also block individual followers from seeing your posts if one of them becomes annoying (or worse). (Don’t worry, your followers won’t notice if you block them.)
On mobile
- At the top of the leading mobile menu, choose “Followers.”
- Search for the follower you want to block.
- If you’re using iOS, tap the three horizontal dots next to their name. If you’re using Android, tap the three vertical dots. Select “Remove.”
On the web
- Click on the person icon and then on “Followers.”
- Search for the follower you want to block.
- After clicking on the person’s icon, look for the three horizontal dots to the right of their name. Select “Block this user.”
Turn on two-factor authentication.
Are you worried that anyone could impersonate you on Instagram? Enable two-factor authentication, which will send you an authentication code via text message whenever you log in to Instagram on a new device. You’ll need to enter the code to finish logging in.
Read Also: How Do I Change My Email On Instagram – Steps To Change Instagram Email
On mobile
- Navigate to “Settings” > “Privacy and Security” > “Two-Factor Authentication” > “Get Started.”
- Toggle on “Text Message.”
- If you’d rather use an authentication app like Google Authenticator, choose “Authentication App” instead. If you already have one, the app will search to see if you have one. If you don’t, it will suggest one.
On the web
- Navigate to the individual icon, then to the gear icon.
- “Privacy and Security”>”Edit Two-Factor Authentication Environment.”
- Select “Text Message” from the drop-down menu. If you have an authentication app-enabled, you can check for “Use Authentication App.” Otherwise, it would be grayed out.
Read: The Most Important Instagram Statistics To Know
Prevent third-party apps from getting your data
Numerous third-party apps will request access to your Instagram information, such as one that will schedule your Instagram posts for you. So, before agreeing to allow someone access to your data, bear in mind that the more organizations that have private information about you, the more likely it is that the information will be misused or stolen. Furthermore, only grant Instagram access to apps that have a legitimate need for it.
To revoke access to applications that already have it, you must use the web interface to not do so through the mobile app.
- Go to Instagram on your phone or tablet and click or tap the person icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
- Click or tap on the gear icon.
- From the drop-down menu, choose “Authorized Apps.” (It’ll be in the menu on the left.) A list of apps that have been given Instagram access will appear.
- After pressing the “Revoke Access” button for any app, you want to revoke access for, choose “Yes.”
Check if someone has hacked your account.
Do you suspect your Instagram account has been hacked? You can search by reviewing your previous account activity, such as logins, logouts, password changes, and more.
- In the mobile app, go to “Settings”> “Privacy and Security”> “Access Data.” On the site, tap the “person” icon in the upper-right corner of the page. From the gear icon, select “Privacy and Security”> “View Account Data.”
- You’ll be guided to a page that contains a wealth of details on how your account has been used. More information is available by selecting a tab, such as “Account privacy changes,” “Logins,” “Logouts,” “Hashtags you follow,” and so on.
- “Account privacy updates,” “Password improvements,” “Logins,” “Logouts,” and “Stories Activity” should all be given special consideration. If you see something out of the ordinary, someone else is likely using your account. To keep them out, change your password right away.