Instagram has announced that they are expanding and introducing a number of features to aid users in maintaining the security of their accounts. The social network giant is notably introducing a new "hacked" micro site where users can report and fix account access issues.
"To support accounts that are experiencing access issues or may have been hacked, we created Instagram.com/hacked - a new, comprehensive destination people can rely on to report and resolve account access issues," Instagram wrote in a Blog Post.
Users can then choose if they think they have been hacked, have forgotten their password, are no longer able to utilise two-factor authentication, or whether their account has been disabled. From there, users can proceed through a number of procedures to regain their account access. If a user has more than one account linked to their data, they can select the one that requires support.
"If you're unable to log in to your account, enter Instagram.com/hacked on your mobile phone or desktop browser. Next, you will be able to select if you think you've been hacked, forgot your password, lost access to two-factor authentication or if your account has been disabled. From there, you will be able to follow a series of steps to help regain access to your account. If you have multiple accounts associated with your information, you will be able to choose which account needs support," Instagram wrote.
As per a report by TechCrunch, Instagram is expanding access to a feature that offers users several options for recovering their accounts if they lose access. Instagram started testing a feature earlier this year that allows users to ask their friends to verify their identity in order to assist restore access to their account.
"First, we remove accounts that our automated systems find to be malicious, including ones that impersonate others, which goes against our Community Guidelines. Second, because bad actors often don’t immediately use accounts maliciously, we’re now testing sending warnings if an account that we suspect may be impersonating someone requests to follow you,” Instagram said.
To help users quickly determine whether the account they are interacting with is real, the company will also start displaying the blue verified logo for verified accounts in more places across the network. Verified blue badges are now visible in Stories and DMs. In future, Instagram will start displaying them in the feed as well.
