With major password leaks we’ve recently seen, there’s an increased chance that your Instagram account will be hacked. In case this happens, Instagram has just introduced a new, easier way to recover your account.
The new recovery process is currently in the test phase. Here’s how it works: the app asks you for user-specific information, such as the email and phone number originally linked to your account. You will then receive a six-digit code to that email or phone number. This should prevent hackers from logging into your account on other devices. Also, it allows you to recover your account even if the intruder changes your username and contact info. Instagram is also ensuring that the username can’t be claimed for a “period of time” after account changes. This way, you can get your username back after you recover your account.
If your account has ever been hacked, then you remember what the process used to look like. You had to email Instagram or fill out a support form. The new method should make it simpler and quicker to get your hijacked account back. However, it won’t stop the hijackers from trying. Still, Instagram hopes that it will at least discourage the intruders from taking over someone else’s account. Since the new method is still being tested, it’s not clear when it will become widely available. As Engadget notes, the goal of this new recovery process is clear: “Instagram is hoping that you can eventually recover an account entirely within the app, rather than leaning on the security team.” This means that the security team will no longer have much work regarding the hacked accounts. So, I suggest they start working on securing the users’ passwords and other data so we don’t have major leaks anymore. [via DPReview, Engadget]
