March 29, 2024
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Instagram announced today that that it is currently testing a new features that will make it easier for people to regain access to accounts that hackers have overtaken, Motherboard reports.

Attackers often trick Instagram users into clicking a phishing link that requires them to enter their login credentials, which gives them access to the account. Once they’re in control, the hacker will change the account’s associated email address and phone number, which can make regaining access a nightmare.

Today, Instagram has started rolling out a test that will ask users to enter the email address or phone number linked to their account, or the ones they used when they initially signed up for the platform. Instagram will then send a six-digit code that will allow them to regain access. If a hacker has control over their email and phone number too.

An Instagram spokesperson tells Motherboard that, “When you re-gain access to your account, we will take additional measures to ensure a hacker cannot use codes sent to your email address or phone number to access your account from a different device.”

This same process will also protect people whose usernames were changed. In that same vein, Instagram says another feature that’s already available on Android will ensure your username is safe for a period of time after any account changes, meaning it can’t be claimed by someone else if you lose access to your account. This feature is coming to iOS now.

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