Instagram

Instagram is one of the most popular social media apps, so of course, it is a big target for cybercriminals who want to hack into accounts.

According to Norton, one of every six social media accounts will be compromised. These hacks can have damaging effects that can cost Instagram-using businesses thousands, or even millions of dollars. Consider that back in 2016, NFL player Laremy Tunsil’s Instagram account was hacked, costing an estimated $21 million in damages.

Besides monetary damage, losing your Instagram to hackers can have other effects. Your business profile could be used to scam others, plant phishing software, create fake engagements on paid PPC campaigns, or even steal your brand identity.

How Does Instagram Get Hacked?

Instagram hacking happens in several ways. Many attempts involve social engineering, which manipulates users whose accounts are susceptible to attacks.

These are the most common methods of hacking Instagram profiles.

How Do People Hack Instagram With Malicious Software?

Some hackers infect computers with keylogging software. It records anything someone types, allowing unauthorized parties to capture your Instagram login details that way. Alternatively, malicious software could get on your computer after you click a suspicious link or download a dangerous attachment.

Numerous fraudulent websites use phishing tactics to learn passwords or encourage people to sign up to access accounts.

Determined cybercriminals can target accounts to crack them, but obviously, the software they use is illegal in most countries. In some cases, the software itself is fraudulent too, used to trick people who want to get into someone else's profile into falling victim themselves.

How Do Instagram Accounts Get Hacked Through Third-Party Apps?

Instagram hacks also happen indirectly. Cybercriminals could take over a third-party platform that some people use to access Instagram, compromising all the associated account details in the process.

This is possible through Instagram integrations, as well as linked platforms such as Facebook.

How Do People Get Hacked on Instagram Due to Password Problems?

If you use the same password for another account, and it's part of a data leak, cybercriminals could hack into your account using this same password.

Alternatively, if your password is too easy for hackers to guess, your account is at risk.

How Does Instagram Get Hacked Through In-App Scams?

Some hackers trick people into giving up their account details by orchestrating scams. One of the most common tactics used to hack passwords involves people receiving Instagram messages saying their friends made them gifts. However, the associated link sends people to an external site that steals their passwords.

Cybercriminals also target Instagram and Facebook users with Cash App scams. They promise to send people $850, but experts say falling for this offer could lead to identity theft.

How Do People Hack Instagram Accounts Without Cybersecurity Knowledge?

It’s not always skilled hackers breaking into Instagram accounts. How can someone hack your Instagram account if they aren’t a cybersecurity expert? One of the main ways is through purposeful or unintentional device access combined with automatic logins.

Instagram can store information for multiple accounts. However, you can only access them one at a time. Maybe you often let your housemate or a significant other use your phone to access Instagram themselves. If you later have a falling-out, and they know your password, that party could hack your Instagram.

A similar situation could happen if someone steals your phone, you lose it, or an unauthorized person gets access to your email. These outcomes become problematic if you have the two-factor authentication (2FA) feature activated for Instagram.

Having access to your email or phone could provide a hacker with the 2FA verification code they need to log in to your account without knowing the password. They could then access the account and change the password to something only they know.

What Happens When Someone Hacks Your Instagram Account?

The reason for the hack and the methodology used determines what happens after an account hack. In cases where the hacker is someone close to you, you may not notice any changes to your account if the person solely did it to spy on you.

n cases where professional cybercriminals have hacked Instagram profiles, there may be significant changes to the account and its accessibility. These users will likely find themselves locked out of the account. If someone else controls it, they can change the passwords to keep you locked out of the account.

How Do People’s Instagram Accounts Get Hacked When They Are Influencers?

Cybercriminals often take a particular interest in hacking the accounts of influencers. When people have tens of thousands of followers or more, malicious parties could have a broader reach by compromising those accounts.

Sometimes, internet criminals use special software that launches a brute-force attack against those accounts. Regardless of how the takeover happens, some Instagram influencers reported on BuzzFeed News that contacting the site itself doesn’t often help. Desperation may make them resort to hiring white-hat hackers to resolve the problem.

In some cases, hackers demand a ransom for the account. In other cases, they may change significant details on the account, such as images. Hackers often sell off accounts with many followers or hijack the accounts of specific well-known people for profit.