Instagram earlier this week introduced a new “Security
Checkup” feature that aims to keep accounts safe and help
users—whose accounts may have been compromised—to recover them.
In order to gain access to accounts, users will be prompted to
perform a series of steps, which include checking recent login
activity, reviewing profile information, and updating contact
details such as phone numbers or email.
Additionally, the Facebook-owned company is also “strongly”
recommending users to turn on two-factor authentication for extra
security and preventing unauthorized logins.
On that front, Instagram also said it would allow users in
selected countries to use their WhatsApp numbers to authenticate
their accounts.
Stressing that “Instagram will never send you a [direct
message],” the social media platform cautioned users to be on the
lookout for scams, wherein malicious accounts reach out via DMs to
try and access sensitive information like account passwords under
the pretext of warning that the account may be banned for violating
policies around intellectual property.
“If Instagram ever wants to reach you about your account, we
will do so via the ‘Emails from Instagram’ tab in your settings,
which is the only place you will find direct and authentic
communication from us on the app,” the company[1]
said.
References
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company (about.instagram.com)