What to do if your account gets hacked
It's so important to have a plan in place so you know exactly what to do if your account ever gets hacked. Because in reality... it can happen to any of us! As a content creator losing access to your account & years of work can be earth shattering. Not only do you lose your work, but you can also lose your community, sponsorship revenue, and if you're like me you'd probably lose your mind!
In this blog I'm going to break down the action plan every creator should have in place so you know exactly what to do if this ever happens to you!
Ahhhh my account has been hacked! What do I do?!
1. Check your email inbox
Hackers will likely change your login credentials so you no longer have access to your account. This is one of the first things they will do.
Luckily, Instagram has a security feature where they send out an automated message to the old address stating the changes that have been made.
If you act quickly, you’ll be able to click on the link within the email that says “revert this change” to regain access to your account. If this works, MAKE SURE you change your password as soon as you get back into your account.
2. Make a report through Instagram and verify your identity
If the approach above did not work for you, it's time to take it to Instagram. Unfortunately this can be a rather hopeless process, but photographer Jared Quackenbush shared a method that worked for many victims: reporting the hack while verifying your account with a video recording of your face.
If you want to submit a video of your face to verify your account, you have to:
- Go to the Instagram login page and type your username
- Tap on “Forgot password”
- Select “Need more help?”
- Choose the account you want to verify
- When you get the prompt, choose to receive recovery code via text message
- The hacker has likely set up 2FA at this point so you’ll be asked for another code
- On this same screen, tap on “Try Another Way”
- Tap on “Get Support” and select the optioned labeled “My Account Was Hacked”
- Select “Yes, I have a photo of myself in my account
- Type in your email address and tap on “Submit”
- You should be met with a selfie video recording, so follow the instructions and you’ll get contacted by Instagram within 24 hours (usually occurs right away)
If you'd like to learn my 4 step process to protect your account, click here!
3. Reach out to your Instagram Insurance Provider
This is probably the most important and helpful step! If you're a content creator I cannot stress the importance of protecting your business. All other businesses have business insurance... and for the first time EVER we finally have the chance to protect our accounts with Notch, the worlds first insurance for Instagram.
If you have insurance for your Instagram account (like Notch), the first thing you should do is reach out to your insurance provider (if they haven’t already contacted you), and file a claim.
The best part? Once the claim is processed, you'll begin receiving daily payouts that cover any losses to your income. THAT is a game changer and such a huge relief knowing you have a financial safety net in the worst case scenario. At the same time, the insurance company will help you recover your account to get you back to business ASAP!
Also, because it’s business insurance, Notch is a deductible cost for US creators - helping reduce your tax!
Even the most vigilant and tech savvy of us can fall for hackers’ scams - they’re more convincing than ever. Personally, I need to have peace of mind knowing that even if something were to happen, I’m protected. If you’re a content creator or business owner with an Instagram account, I’m sure you’ll feel the same way as I do. These are not just our social media profiles - they’re our businesses, our livelihoods.
All of these steps are an additional layer of security. Take care of your business and it will take care of you! If you'd like to go the extra step and learn more about Notch click here to join Notch’s waitlist and check your eligibility!