Security Awareness Training How-to Guide for Instagram

Instagram Security Awareness Training: A Step-by-Step Guide

May 10

Lev Lesokhin Lev Lesokhin is an experienced business technologist, a former software developer, consultant, and tech executive. Having started his career at MITRE, Lev has had many touch-points with cybersecurity thought leaders over the years. In his current role as OutThink's Executive Vice President for Technology and Analytics, he works with customers and industry leaders to build a quantitative framework for evolving security awareness into human risk management.

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Why Instagram Security Matters The Basics: Ensure Robust Password Security Review and Manage Account Activity Manage Data Sharing and Ads Preferences Additional Precautions for Enhanced Security Take Control of Your Instagram Security

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Why Instagram Security Matters

With over a billion monthly active users, Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms globally. However, its popularity makes it a prime target for cybercriminals. Securing your Instagram account is critical to protect your personal information, professional identity, and social connections. Whether you’re a casual user or a business, these measures ensure your account stays secure against threats like phishing, hacking, and unauthorized access.

The Basics: Ensure Robust Password Security

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Steps:

Open the Instagram app and navigate to your profile.

Tap the three lines in the top-right corner, then select Settings.

Go to Security, then tap Two-Factor Authentication.

Choose between Text Message or an Authentication App.

Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup.

Why It Matters: Two-Factor Authentication adds an additional security layer, making it harder for attackers to access your account even if they have your password. Learn more about 2FA here.

Use a Strong Password

Steps:

Go to Settings, then tap Security.

Select Password.

Create a password that’s at least eight characters long, including a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Avoid reusing passwords across multiple platforms.

Why It Matters: Weak passwords are one of the easiest ways for attackers to gain access. Tools like NordPass Password Generator can help you create robust, more secure passwords.

Review and Manage Account Activity

Check Account Activity Regularly

Steps:

Go to Settings, then tap Security.

Tap Login Activity.

Review the list of devices and locations where your account is logged in.

Log out of any unfamiliar sessions.

Why It Matters: Regularly monitoring your account activity helps identify unauthorized logins before they escalate into larger security breaches.

Enable Login Alerts

Steps:

Go to Settings, then navigate to Password and Security.

Tap Login Alerts and toggle it on.

Why It Matters: Login alerts notify you immediately about unauthorized attempts to access your account, allowing you to act quickly.

Be Careful with Third-Party Apps

Steps:

Go to Settings, then tap Security.

Select Apps and Websites.

Review the list of connected apps. Remove any that are unfamiliar or no longer needed.

Why It Matters: Third-party apps can access your personal data and potentially expose you to risks like data misuse or breaches. Learn more about managing data sharing risks and best practices here.

Additional Precautions for Enhanced Security

Make Your Account Private

Steps:

Go to Settings, then tap Privacy.

Toggle on Private Account.

Why It Matters: Setting your account to private ensures that only approved followers can view your posts and reduce exposure to potential scams by restricting who can see your profile.

Watch Out for Phishing Scams

Steps:

Verify the sender of any emails or messages claiming to be from Instagram.

Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unsolicited attachments.

Use Instagram’s official Emails from Instagram feature to confirm legitimate communications.

Why It Matters: Phishing is one of the most common ways accounts are compromised. Security Awareness Training teaches you how to spot phishing attempts and help you avoid falling victim to them.

Log Out on Shared Devices

Steps:

Navigate to Settings, then tap Log Out.

Ensure you log out of Instagram when using public or shared devices.

Why It Matters: Logging out prevents unauthorized or unwanted access to your account, especially when you log on to your account from a device that isn't your own.

Take Control of Your Instagram Security

By following these steps, you can significantly enhance the security of your Instagram account. Regular monitoring, strong passwords, and being cautious about data sharing and phishing attempts will help you stay ahead of potential threats. Take charge of your online presence and protect your account from cybercriminals.

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