Instagram logo displayed on an Apple iPhone, Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Instagram CEO and co-founder Kevin Systrom has made it a goal to foster a safer environment for the photo social network app. As a result, a couple of new security features have been added to the app recently.
Instagram will now start placing a screen over sensitive photos and videos, which have been reported by someone in the community. If you want to see posts that have been covered, then you will simply have to tap on it. This is Instagram’s way of making it less likely to have “unwanted experiences in the app.”
Instagram also added an extra security layer to protect users against hacks, known as two-factor authentication. Instagram’s two-factor authentication will require a code every time a new device logs into your account.
How Do You Enable Two-Factor Authentication On Instagram?
To activate two-factor authentication, open the Instagram app and go to your profile by tapping on the “Me” icon. Then go to the Options menu by tapping on the gear icon:
Options menu on Instagram
Under the “Two-Factor Authentication” menu, enable “Require Security Code”:
The menu for enabling “require security code”
After you enable the feature, Instagram will text message you a security code from the number 326-65. If you have not added a phone number to your account, then you will be asked to do so.
The two-factor authentication menu also provides you with Backup Codes if you lose access to your phone number and cannot receive a security code by text:
Instagram two-factor authentication backup codes
In the Backup Codes menu, there are two options for backing up the numbers in case you need to get back into your account. The two options are copying codes and taking a screenshot. The “Copy Codes” option copies the 5 backup codes to the clipboard. I would recommend pasting these numbers to an email and sending it to yourself. And the “Take Screenshot” option adds a screenshot of the backup codes to your camera roll. You may want to backup this image to one of your photo cloud backup services like Google Photos, Dropbox or OneDrive. And you can also request new codes if you are worried that the set of backup codes were stolen or if you have used a lot of them.
Why Is Two-Factor Authentication Important?
Two-factor authentication is important because password and identity theft is increasing every year. And the tools for stealing usernames and passwords of millions of people are becoming much more sophisticated. This is especially problematic because many people use the same username and passwords for multiple services, making it easier to steal identities.
Personally, I know a few people that have had their Instagram account hacked. The hackers deleted their photos and replaced it with spammy photos and links. Many people have been turning to Twitter to get help on how to resolve their Instagram getting hacked:
My instagram literally just got hacked by a Russian hacker lol
Day 4 since my @instagram account was hacked by a Russian hacker. No response. Even w pics of my kids in play! #help @facebook Please RT
@instagram My IG account got hacked and hacker changed associated email-id (So can’t reset password). Pls HELP.
@instagram I filed a second report later once I realized the hacker had changed the username. Results:
@instagram I literally hate instagram. Why is there no way to contact instagram. A hacker deleted my account and I can’t get it back
Instagram also recently launched a new website called instagram-together.com where you can learn how to manage privacy and security on the photo social network app. Some of the tutorials on the website include account blocking, managing photo tagging, comment filtering/reporting/deleting and see fewer posts like the ones that are being displayed in the Search & Explore section.
What are your thoughts about Instagram’s new two-factor authentication feature? Do you plan to set it up for your account? Please leave a comment!
I have written over 20,000 articles about startups, gadgets and large technology companies over the last ten years. My Forbes column focuses on the tech economy, startups
Instagram has finally added the two-factor authentication to its iOS app. This means you can make your Instagram account more secure by enabling the two-factor authentication. When this feature is enabled Instagram will send a unique code to your mobile phone before authenticating the login request. So even if someone has been able to get access to your username and current password, he or she won’t be able to get into your account without entering the unique passcode that was sent to your mobile number. Follow the steps below to enable two factor authentication on Instagram for iPhone or iPad and make your account more secure.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication On Instagram
- Launch Instagram app.
- Tap on the profile button located on right most side of the button bar.
- Once you are on the profile screen tap on the Settings button that is the one with gear glyph.
- You will now see the ‘Options‘ screen. Here you have to tap on the ‘Two-factor Authentication‘ option.
- Enable the toggle for ‘Require security code‘ and then tap on ‘Add Number‘.
- Type in your Phone number and hit the ‘Next‘ button.
- Instagram will send you a code via text message, enter it.
- Now finally take a screenshot of Backup codes that are displayed on your screen.
That’s it. Now every time you or someone else tries to log into your Instagram account you will receive a secret code on your phone number that will be required to authenticate the login. If you don’t have your Phone at hand, you can use one of the codes that you took screenshot of instead to login.
Instagram announced on March 23, 2017 that the company did enable two-factor authentication support for all users of the service.
Two-factor authentication adds a security layer to the sign in process on Instagram. What is meant by that is that you are required to complete a second authentication step before you are signed in to your account and can start using the Instagram application.
An attacker would have to gain access to the username and password, and also the security code that is sent to the user when a new sign in is initiated. Please note that you are only asked to complete the second authentication step if you sign in from an unknown device according to the “Keeping Instagram Safe” page.
Instagram supports two different types of codes that users may use to complete the two-factor authentication process. The first comes via SMS, and it is the primary means of authentication. You get a code via SMS which you need to enter to complete the sign in process.
The second is one of several backup codes. These codes are one-use codes that are generated automatically when you setup the new authentication feature on Instagram.
How to enable two-factor authentication on Instagram
The only requirement for enabling two-factor authentication on Instagram is that you add a mobile phone number to the user profile. You can do so during the setup process, and don’t need to add the phone number prior to that.
Two-factor authentication is supported on Android and iOS devices.
Step 1: Click on the profile icon in the bottom menu bar. Tap on the menu icon that is displayed in the top right corner when the profile page opens.
Step 2: Scroll down until you find Two-Factor Authentication listed there, and tap on the option. Toggle “Require Security Code” to enable the security feature for your Instagram account.
Instagram displays a prompt when you toggle the security option:
Turning on two-factor authentication means we’ll send you a security code to enter every time you log in.
Step 3: The next step depends on whether you have added a mobile phone number to Instagram already or not. If you have, you get a six digit code sent to the number which you need to enter. If you have not, you are asked to enter and verify the phone first.
Step 4: Backup codes are listed on the next page. These codes can be used as one-time codes to sign in. Can be useful if the SMS don’t arrive on your device for instance for whatever reason.
How to turn two-factor authentication off again
You can turn off two-factor authentication again at any point in time, provided that you can access the account.
Turning off is simpler. You follow the steps outlined above, but toggle the “require security code” feature to off this time. You need to confirm the turning off of the security feature in the next step when a prompt is displayed to you.
Disabling two-factor authentication on Instagram requires no extra confirmation of any kind.
Closing Words
Support for two-factor authentication for all users is an important step in keeping Instagram accounts safe. It is easy enough to setup, but only supports SMS or backup codes for now. Support for other code generation options, through applications for instance, would certainly be a welcome addition.
Now You: do you use Instagram?
Instagram is where you can post something that’s funny or do some real business and make money. Whether you are an Instagram influencer or an average user, it is important to keep your Instagram account safe and secure. People who know you may find your Instagram password easily if it is easily guessed. To avoid compromising your social media account with others, it is important to switch on the Instagram two-factor authentication.
In this article, we will see how to keep hackers at bay by enabling Instagram two-factor authentication and see your login activity.
Enable Instagram Two-Factor Authentication
Two Factor authentication, aka Two-Step Verification, is an important step in securing your Instagram account. You will get an SMS or verification code on the authentication app every time you (or someone) tries to log in to your Instagram account.
- Open the Instagram app on your iPhone or Android.
- Go to the profile tab.
- Tap on the menu icon at the top right corner.
- Go to Settings > Security.
- Tap the “Two-Factor Authentication” option.
- Tap Get Started.
- From the next screen, toggle on either of the options.
You can use the authentication from an authenticator app, or get 2FA codes as a text message on the registered cellular number. If you choose the authenticator app method, you will need to have the Google Authenticator app on your phone. You will also get a bunch of backup codes for your account in any case you lose access to your number or authenticator app.
