Whilst we may have taken back control of how our data is used with the recent implementation of GDPR, something that has been, and continues to be out of our hands is hacking.
The cruel, unauthorised access to our personal platforms, pictures, messages and the like still remains a HUGE problem for digital users everywhere.
The Insta Issue
Instagram is one social media platform that has been a target of late. The site has over 1 billion active users – hats off to Instagram for creating an app so widely loved, however, thumbs down for creating a haven for hackers.
Instagram is one social media platform that has been a target of late. The site has over 1 billion active users – hats off to Instagram for creating an app so widely loved, however, thumbs down for creating a haven for hackers.
A number of high-profile users have been victims of hacking recently with the likes of the Modern Family actress, Sofia Vergara’s account being taken over at the end of July. Sofia’s hackers used her platform to lure users to engage with a fake promotion of ‘1000 FREE IPhoneX’s’.
Luckily, Sofia was able to take back control of her account and her astonishing 14.5million followers were not compromised. And, this is just one example of how dangerous hacking can be.
Holly Sheeran is a beauty and lifestyle social media influencer whose Instagram account plays a crucial part in not only her life but her career. Having worked hard of the years to build up an impressive 29.6k followers, her Instagram sees her upload posts as part of brand collaborations.
She too was recently caught up in a storm of Instagram hacking, where her account was used to promote acts of terrorism.
Holly discussed with Influencer Matchmaker her experience with being hacked:
Creators such as Holly, are reliant on their social media platforms to generate an income, and Holly believes there needs to be a change in order for influencers to feel that their content is as safe as can be:
What is two-factor authentication?
Put simply, two-factor authentication is a security feature used by most social media platforms to ensure your content, following and private messaging remains exactly that, private. Instagram made this feature accessible to each and every user last year.
Each time you log into your social account from a device you don’t normally use, and your account doesn’t recognise, a request for an SMS security code will be issued.
This SMS security code will have been agreed with you on setting up two-factor authentication (scroll down to find out more about setting it up).
Most of the time, it will be you or someone you know accessing your account. However, in the case that it isn’t, two-factor authentication steps in to make it harder for hackers to enter your account.
How do I set up two-factor authentication?
Unlike most security features that require you to remember all of the passwords you have ever had in your lifetime, Instagram has been kind and made two-factor authentication really easy to use.
Follow this step-by-step guide to put your Instagram account in safe hands…
1. Click on your profile page
2. Select the cog (three vertical dots for Android users) that sits right next to ‘edit profile’
3. Scroll down until you see ‘two-factor authentication’
4. Slide the button to the right to activate
5. Enter or confirm your mobile number
Once you have done these steps, await a text from Instagram – they are usually pretty prompt and don’t leave you hanging for too long – which will include a six-digit security code.
6. Enter the security code you have been sent and click next Your account will now be protected by two-factor authentication. From here, you are able to access backup security codes should you, like most of us, forget your code along the way.
