Instagram Rolls Out Two-Factor Authentication For Additional User Security

By Lynn Palec, | February 22, 2016

Multiple account support has been a highly desired feature on Instagram for several years.

Multiple account support has been a highly desired feature on Instagram for several years.

Photo-sharing app Instagram recently rolled out its two-form authentication security protocol in order to upgrade its security standards and help curb incidents of online identity theft and hacking. Instagram stated that the feature will not be available to its massive user base at once; instead the company will slowly roll out the feature to its users.

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Two-factor authentication is a type of security protocol wherein users will receive temporary codes through text message after they login into their online accounts. The security codes will serve as a second form of the login process and adds another layer of security in the login process.

Codes generated through two-form factor authentication are only valid for a one-time use. This type of security standard makes it hard for hackers to penetrate user accounts even though they have direct access to the user's username, email address and password.

Some tech analysts said that Instagram's decision to adopt two-factor authentication had been long overdue. Instagram's parent company Facebook launched two-factor authentication as part of its security standard way back in 2011, according to First Post.

By sending security codes through text messages, two-form authentication is getting a lot of hype in the security community. Two-form authentication is slowly becoming the standard in user authentication protocol due to its extreme layer of security.

Some reports claim that Instagram's decision to adopt two-factor authentication is not to improve its overall security, but to lessen incidents of spamming and trolling in the service.

Although a fair share of Instagram users are geared towards casual use, like posting selfies and regular photos, there is a significant portion of users that use the platform in order to promote their trade and products.

Instagram has turned into one of the most used platform in sharing professional grade photographs and trade related to photography.

According to The Register, professional artist Rachel Ryle lost at least 35,000 followers when her Instagram account was hacked and hackers posted unruly photos which eventually tarnished her reputation. Some Instagram users also claim that they lost sponsorships when their accounts were hacked.

Instagram has yet to confirm its official timeline of when it plans to release two-factor authentication in other regions.

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