How to Prevent Getting Hacked on Instagram in 2025

Instagram is one of the most popular social media apps, with over 2 billion users around the world. It’s an app I love for sharing photos and videos with my friends and family and for keeping up with some of my favorite social media accounts. But there is a very real risk of having your Instagram account hacked.

In 2022, reports indicated that over 1 million users on social media were hacked, and over 80% were on Instagram, a number that is constantly on the rise. But don’t worry; there are some ways you can prevent hacking on your own account. One tool that could help you protect your Instagram account is a virtual private network, also known as a VPN.

A VPN can help encrypt your online traffic and add security measures to keep your account safe. I’ll break down for you everything you need to know about hacking on Instagram and Instagram account security and how a VPN can help with those issues.

Key takeaways

1. Instagram is a popular social media app, but it is also a popular target for hackers.
2. There are several steps you could take to protect your Instagram account and prevent hacking, like having a strong password, protecting your email, and using two-factor authentication.
3. A VPN is one of the tools that can be used to enhance your online security and privacy.

Why hackers target Instagram accounts

There are several reasons why hackers may target accounts on Instagram.

• Stealing personal data. Your Instagram account contains a lot of your personal information, and hackers are looking to use it for nefarious purposes. For example, your user name and password may be used to try and access other accounts or bank information.
• Sending spam. Companies sometimes use spam messages to increase their earnings, but because of DM limits that could cause accounts to be banned, they will use hackers to access other accounts to spam even more.
• Promote other accounts. Some hackers and their employers like to use hacked accounts to promote other accounts that they want to increase engagement on.
• Blackmailing or doxxing. If the hacker is a rival or someone who has a personal issue with you, they may hack your Instagram to find photos or private messages that you never wanted to be shared with the public.

Keep your Instagram account safe: Why protection is key

You might wonder if it’s really worth all the fuss of taking steps to protect your account. Surely, it won’t happen to you.

Unfortunately, no one is immune from the risk of having a hacked Instagram account, no matter how big or how small your account and online presence may be. Most people will encounter hackers at some point, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

How to know if your Instagram account has been hacked

If you’re unsure if your Instagram account has been hacked or not, keep an eye out for the following:

• Unauthorized changes. If you notice changes to your account that you didn’t allow, like your profile picture, bio, or username, you have likely been hacked.
• Unfamiliar posts. If you see posts or messages that you know you didn’t write or send, this is a strong indication of a hack.
• Suspicious logins. If you receive a notification that someone has tried to log in from a location or device that you’re unfamiliar with, this means someone is probably trying to hack your account.
• Account access denied. If you tried to log in to your account but have been denied access, it could be because a hacker has changed your username or password.
• Unknown email addresses. When checking your account settings, if you see email addresses that you are unfamiliar with, then it’s likely that a hacker has access to your account.
• Increased activity. If you’re account suddenly has a spike in activity and engagement, it could mean a hacker has gained access to the account.

How to keep your Instagram account safe from hackers

Besides using a VPN, there are a few easy steps you can implement to keep yourself safe from hackers.

Strong password

It’s simple but effective. Having a strong password is a surefire way to make sure hackers can’t gain access to your account. You’ll want to make sure it’s a unique password that includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. And the longer, the better. It’s also important that you don’t use the same password as other sites. If you’re worried about remembering it, try writing it down somewhere or use a secure password manager.

Protect your email account

Your email account is something that is associated with your Instagram account and is used to recover access to your account if someone clicks “forgot password.” So, it is crucial to protect your email account in order to make sure it can’t then be used to hack your Instagram and change your password. Make sure you have a strong password for your email, and consider using two-factor authentication to verify your identity.

Use two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication is something you can use for both Instagram and your email to keep them protected. You can turn it on in your account settings, and after that, you can set it up with your phone number to send you a text message. This way, anytime someone tries to log in, they will need authentication from your phone, as well as the password. You can also use an authentication app or Google authenticator.

Avoid third-party apps

A common mistake that many people make is that they’ll use third-party applications that claim to help you with your Instagram account. Instead, many of these apps end up stealing your information or provide a door for hackers to use. So it’s important to avoid them, and revoke the access for any you may be using now.

What to do if your Instagram account has been compromised

If your account has been compromised, then you need to take immediate action. Here are the steps you can take to try to regain control and protect your account:

• Change your password. The first step should be to immediately change your password to something strong so that the hacker cannot get back in.
• Log out of all devices. Go into your settings and click “log out of all devices” to ensure any hackers will get signed out of your account.
• Turn on two-factor authentication. Enable two-factor authentication in your account settings to add an extra layer of security. Use an authenticator app if need be.
• Revoke third-party access. If any third-party apps have access to your Instagram account, revoke access so they can’t use it as a hacking method.
• Contact customer support. Be sure to report the hack to Instagram and ask them for any further help you may need in restoring your account.
• Use a VPN. If you’ve been hacked, turn on your VPN to make sure you are extra protected, and a hacker can’t get back in.

How to avoid getting hacked on Instagram

Besides making sure you have a strong password and are using two-factor authentication, one of the best ways to prevent your Instagram account from getting hacked is by using a VPN.

A VPN will provide added security for you and your online activities. It creates an encrypted tunnel to protect your internet traffic, which can, in turn, make it difficult for hackers to steal your sensitive information.

It also hides your real IP address, which makes all of your online activity anonymous and your location private, so it’s then harder for hackers and other third parties to track.

3 best VPNs for privacy and security

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is my number one pick and what I consider the best all-around VPN service for Instagram. It comes with over 3,000 VPN servers based in 105 countries.

Features: ExpressVPN comes with unlimited bandwidth, as well as 8 simultaneous device connections. It includes a split tunneling feature, a password manager, private DNS, and an option for dedicated IP.

Speed: This VPN has lightning-fast speeds thanks to its Lightway tunneling protocol.

Security: ExpressVPN has all of the best privacy and security features, including AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, an ad-blocker, RAM-only servers, obfuscated servers, DNS leak protection, Private DNS, and a strict no-logs policy.

Streaming: ExpressVPN is great at bypassing blocks on many sites and streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, HBO Max, Hulu, Vudu, BBC iPlayer, and more.

Compatibility: This VPN is compatible with most devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and routers.

Pricing: Prices start at $6.67 per month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN does offer a 7-day free trial, but for mobile devices only.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is a well-rounded and reliable VPN with excellent security for Instagram. It has over 7,000 VPN servers in 118 countries.

Features: NordVPN offers VPN users up to 10 simultaneous connections for their devices, as well as unlimited bandwidth. It also comes with split tunneling, obfuscated servers, a double VPN, and a dedicated IP.

Speed: This VPN has super-fast speeds using the NordLynx protocol.

Security: NordVPN has great security features, which include military-grade encryption, a Dark Web monitor, DNS leak protection, malware protection, a kill switch, and a strict zero-logs policy.

Streaming: NordVPN is great when it comes to bypassing restrictions on streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, and more.

Compatibility: This VPN is compatible with most devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and routers.

Pricing: Prices for NordVPN start at $3.39 per month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also offers a 7-day free trial on all devices.

3. Surfshark

Surfshark is the VPN service I recommend as the best budget VPN for Instagram. It comes with over 3,200 servers in 100 countries.

Features: Surfshark comes with unlimited simultaneous device connections, as well as unlimited bandwidth. It also offers split tunneling, obfuscated servers, and a dedicated IP address.

Speed: While it might not be as fast as Express or NordVPN, Surfshark still has very fast speeds using the WireGuard protocol.

Security: Surfshark comes with many of the top security features, including AES-256 encryption, an ad-blocker, a cookie pop-up blocker, obfuscated servers, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy.

Streaming: Surfshark works well at unblocking streaming services, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+.

Compatibility: Surfshark is compatible with many devices, including Mac, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and routers.

Pricing: Prices for Surfshark start at the low price of just $1.99 per month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also has a 7-day free trial available.

FAQ

Can you prevent your Instagram from being hacked?

Yes, you can prevent your Instagram account from being hacked with several methods and tools.

• Use a VPN provider
• Make sure to use a strong, unique password
• Don’t use the same password on all your online accounts
• Use two-factor authentication
• Protect you email
• Don’t allow access to third-party apps
• Perform a security checkup

How does an Instagram account get hacked?

Hackers can gain access to your Instagram account by getting into your email and using it to alter your login credentials, by knowing your password, or by using backdoors from other websites and apps.

How common is it for Instagram accounts to get hacked?

It’s, unfortunately, much more common for Instagram accounts to get hacked than people realize. It happens to millions of Instagram users every year, which is why it’s important to protect your Instagram account from being hacked.

Conclusion

While using your Instagram account, it’s important to be aware of the security risks and cyber threats that exist. But by taking precautions, like having a unique password, enabling two-factor authentication, security checkups, revoking access to third parties, and using a VPN, you can protect your Instagram account from being hacked and stay safe and secure online.