In this digital age, it’s a good idea to have separate passwords for each of your social media accounts. You might be thinking, “But why? What if someone hacks my account and posts inappropriate images?” Well, that is a possibility no matter what you do. However, by having a different password for each of your social media accounts you can limit the damage if something like this were to happen. With all of the recent breaches in security at different websites, maintaining your privacy with separate passwords is more imperative than ever before. If you have been reading our blog on a regular basis then you know we are big fans of Instagram. In fact, we are obsessed with the photo-sharing app which has over 700 million users worldwide.
What You Should Know About Instagram Passwords
There are two types of passwords that you can use for Instagram:
- Username password: Anyone can log into your account if they know your username. So, if you share your username with friends it can become a security risk.
- Password password: This is the most secure way to protect your account. With this type of password, only the account holder can log into their account. When you log into your Instagram account, the app will prompt you to change your password. You can choose to change it immediately, or you can wait awhile until you have a better idea of your needs. We recommend that you change your password periodically, especially if you have sensitive information on your account, like your financial information, credit card numbers, important documents, and more. You should also change your password if you notice any unusual activity on your account. For example, if you see that your follower count dropped off and then suddenly shot back up, this may indicate that someone tried to hack your account. Instagram has seen instances of users who tried to log into other accounts and then accidentally posted on the wrong account. If you notice anything strange, it’s best to change your password just to be on the safe side.
Why is it important to change your Instagram password?
To ensure that your account is secure, you should change your password every few months. You can even change your password every month to be extra safe. If you have sensitive information on your account, such as your financial information, credit card numbers, or other important documents, you should change your password immediately. You should also change your password if you notice any unusual activity on your account. Hackers are actively trying to crack your password, so you should change it regularly. If you have sensitive information on your account, you should change your password immediately. If you notice any unusual activity on your account, like a drop in followers and then a sudden increase, it could indicate a hacker is trying to break into your account.
How to change your Instagram password
To change your password, follow these steps:
- Tap the Profile icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen and select the user icon in the top-right corner.
- On the next screen, select Settings.
- Select Password and Logout next to each other.
- Enter your current password and then select Change Password.
- Enter a new password and re-enter it to confirm.
- Select Log out as a new user.
- Log back in with your new password.
Reset your password
If you forget your password, you can reset it using the options in your account.
- Tap the Profile icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen and then select the user icon in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings and then select Logout next to Password and Logout next to Username.
- Select Forgot Password.
- Select the email address associated with your account and then enter the Captcha code.
- Instagram will send you an email with instructions for resetting your password.
How to create a stronger Instagram password
Your password should be long, complex, and unique to each account you have. If you use the same password for each account, one breach can affect multiple accounts. It may seem like it would be impossible to remember so many different passwords for each of your accounts, but there are lots of ways to make it easier on yourself. Some ways to make your passwords stronger include:
- Make it long: The longer, the better, eight characters or more is ideal. You can use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. – Make it complex: Avoid obvious patterns that hackers would be able to easily guess, like your social security number, birthdate, or a simple word or phrase.
- Use different passwords for each account: Avoid using the same password for everything you have online.
- Make your account unique: Try to make your password related to your Instagram account.
- Change your password regularly: We recommend changing your passwords every three months or after a major event.
- Store your passwords in a secure password manager: Password managers make it easy to manage your passwords.
How to Turn on Two-factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an extra layer of security for your account. After enabling 2FA, logging in to your account requires more than just your username and password. When logging into your account, you’ll need to enter an additional verification code to log in. This code is generated by an app such as Google Authenticator or an SMS-based app like Authy. These apps will generate a new code each time you log in, so even if someone has your login information, they won’t be able to get into your account without the code, too. There are a few reasons why you should enable 2FA on all of your important accounts.
Hack Alert: Don’t Fall for These Scams!
There are many ways that hackers can get into your account, but one of the most common ways is by tricking you into handing over your login information. Here are a few of the most common Instagram login scams and how to avoid falling for them:
- Fake websites: Scammers build fake websites that look almost identical to the real login page for Instagram. They will then use these sites to steal your login information. The best way to avoid these sites is to only log into your Instagram account directly through the app.
- Fake emails: Hackers will also try to trick you into handing over your login information by sending you fake emails that claim to be from Instagram. These emails will often look legitimate and ask you to log in to your account, but they are fake.
Conclusion
Changing your Instagram password is the best way to protect your account, but you have to make sure you do it properly. Make sure you avoid these common mistakes when changing your Instagram password, so you can stay safe online. The best way to stay protected is to use a different password for each of your social media accounts, and it’s never a bad idea to use 2FA, too.
