The idea is to keep recovery details up to date so that users can wrest back control of their Instagram accounts if targeted by a bad actor. In July 2021, Instagram introduced a new security checkup system that allows users to review crucial account information such as the linked email address and registered phone number. The feature sounds extremely promising, and way more convenient than the usual account recovery system which can involve submitting proof of identity and can take anywhere between a few days to a month, or longer. Once both the nominated accounts act on the notification and verify the account owner’s identity, a password reset link is sent, and account activity is restored to the rightful owner. If the two ‘friends’ don’t act on the notification in that period, users can nominate someone else for assistance. Once the user has selected two accounts for identification, a notification will be sent to the nominated accounts and those friends will need to respond within 24 hours. It is unclear if both accounts need to follow each other to qualify as a ‘friend’ or if a one-sided follower/following equation is enough to ask for identity verification help. However, they will then also be able to nominate two accounts to help with verification. Users will still be required to submit the last password they remember. Instagram says it will share more details about the upcoming feature soon, but images shared do shed some light on how it will work. Related: How To Report An Impersonating Account On Facebook & Instagram To make the process of account recovery a tad less frustrating, Instagram announced that it's testing a new system that allow users to ask friends to verify the legitimate account owner’s identity and speed up the process. While celebrities and influencers get priority assistance from Instagram’s support team, regular users are often stuck in a tiring cycle with little help.

Online swindlers often take over an account and try to peddle bogus schemes like crypto investments with unprecedented returns, especially if the account happens to have a sizeable following. Similar scams are targeting Twitter users as well. The suspicious text messages usually start with lines like “Tap to get back into your Instagram account” followed by a link.

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