How to Detect Suspicious Activity on Your Instagram Account: Awareness and Protection

Instagram is a valuable platform for social interaction, sharing, and marketing. However, it's important to be vigilant and aware of any suspicious activity that might compromise your account. Here's how you can recognize and address such activity.

Signs of Suspicious Activity on Your Instagram Account

Unrecognized Login Activity

One of the primary ways to identify unauthorized access to your Instagram account is by monitoring your login activity. Go to Settings Security Login Activity and check for any logins from unfamiliar locations or devices. If you notice logins from unknown locations or devices, it could indicate that your account has been compromised.

Unusual Messages or Posts

If you receive messages or see posts from your account that you did not write, this is a clear sign of suspicious activity. These could be fraudulent attempts to gain control over your account or to misuse it.

Changes to Account Information

Changes to your account information, such as your email address, password, or profile information, that occur without your knowledge could indicate that someone else has access to your account. Keep a close eye on these details to ensure your account remains secure.

Follow/Unfollow Activity

If you observe that people are being followed or unfollowed without your consent, it may indicate suspicious behavior. Pay attention to any anomalies in your follower list or the accounts you follow to catch any irregularities.

Notifications from Instagram

Instagram typically sends notifications when there are significant changes to your account, such as a password change or a change in your email address. If you receive any such notifications that you did not initiate, it should raise concerns.

What to Do If You Suspect Suspicious Activity

Change Your Password

The first step to take if you suspect any suspicious activity is to change your password immediately. Ensure that the new password is strong, unique, and difficult to guess.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your account. By enabling this feature, even if someone gains access to your password, they will still need your second authentication factor to access your account.

Check Account Recovery Options

Ensure that your account recovery settings, including your email address and phone number, are up to date. These details are crucial for account recovery and security.

Report Suspicious Activity

Use Instagram's help center to report any suspicious activity or unauthorized access. Timely reporting of such activity can help in preventing further breaches and securing your account.

Additional Signs of Suspicious Activity

Beyond the signs mentioned above, there are a few more indications that your account may be compromised:

Strange Behaviour of Your Account: If you notice actions that you are not aware of doing, such as commenting on photos, sending direct messages, mentioning people, liking, unfollowing, deleting posts, or posting new photos, it could be a sign of unauthorized activity.

Login Issues: If you are unable to log in because the password has been changed, or if Instagram logs you off automatically and requires you to reset your password, these are clear causes for concern.

Conclusion

Regularly monitoring your Instagram account and enabling security features can significantly help in protecting your account from malicious activity. Be proactive about your account security and stay alert to any deviations in your normal activity. If you suspect any suspicious activity, take immediate action to secure your account.