Instagram Adding Two-Factor Authentication To Better Protect User Accounts

While Instagram may not have endured the same high-profile, embarrassing hacks that Twitter experienced in the past, the photo-sharing site is taking a page from the social media service — and other tech, networking, and retail companies — by enabling two-factor authentication for user accounts. 

TechCrunch reports that Instagram began rolling out the added security measure to protect users’ personal information stored with the network and prevent ne’er-do-wells from commandeering their accounts.

The idea behind the protection is to ensure that the person trying to access an account is the rightful owner. To do so, the company will require users to produce two methods of identification when logging in – typically your password and a time-sensitive code or PIN sent to an authenticated phone number or email address in order to gain access to your account.

Under Instagram’s system users will receive an authentication code via text message to their phone after they enter their username and password on the site, TechCrunch reports. The code must then be entered to gain access to your account.

Two-factor authentication has long been utilized by consumers to protect a variety of online accounts like banks, email, Twitter, Amazon, and others.

Instagram Finally Adds Two-Factor Authentication To Fight Hackers [TechCrunch]

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist