The social media is a world of its own with so many mobile applications helping you connect across the world. Considering it is so vast, security measures become the most vital tool. But what happens when your favorite social media app is not safe? It can give chills to your mind, as your data is not only accessed by you, but also by someone else! It’s a whole new terror being propagated on your privacy! Sadly, this is what Mark Zuckerberg led Facebook has done, again. At first, users were already haunted by the fact that Facebook shared passwords with employees. Now a new danger has arisen. Facebook has admitted that it accidentally revealed millions of Instagram users passwords in plain text. Facebook’s security measures are already in question, especially since back-to-back data breach happened. 

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How did Facebook manage to share your Instagram ID, considering they both are different entities? Well, to understand this, you must know that the video sharing app Instagram is actually managed and owned by Facebook itself. You have come across an option while creating an Instagram ID, which asks to link it with Facebook account. 

The sole reason for linking your Instagram account with Facebook is that, it allows you to share a post on the latter right from the same screen when you add a caption in the former. Generally, by default your Instagram account gets link with your Facebook profile. But, Instagram does allow you to manage your profile! 

In its latest update, Facebook reportedly stated that it estimates this issue impacted millions of Instagram users. Hence, Facebook will be notifying these users about the error.

But as an Instagram lover, you can secure yourself from security breaches and enjoy this app hassle free. 

Talking about the incident, Paul Ducklin, senior technologist at UK-based security software and hardware provider Sophos in a question and answer pattern to Zee Business Online team, has asked users to take precautionary measures on their Instagram password. Here’s the excerpt from the Q&A. 

Should you close your Instagram account?

We can’t answer that for you. Given that the wrongly stored passwords weren’t easily accessible in one database, or deliberately stored for routine use during logins, we don’t think this breach alone is enough reason to terminate your account.

Should you change your Instagram password?

Why not? It’s highly unlikely that any passwords were acquired by any crooks as a result of this, but if any plain text passwords do end up in the wrong hands, you can be sure that the crooks will try them out right away.

So our advice is: don’t wait for Facebook or Instagram to warn you – change your password now.

Should you turn on two-factor authentication?

Yes. We’ve been urging you to do this everywhere you can anyway – it means that a password alone isn’t enough for crooks to raid your account.

For those who are not aware of two-factor authentication - it is referred as dual protection mechanism. A user can opt for two different authentication factors while using any social media app.

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For instance, while Instagram login you are generally ask for password. What you can do is also choose another medium of authentication apart from just feeding a password. Some chose an OTP system which is sent on mobile number or email address. This eliminates dependency on just your password. Even if your password is tempered by a source, individual or entity, still they will not be able to access your account until the two-factor authentication process is completed. Hence, you will be aware most likely, if someone tried to access your Instagram and Facebook id.

Apart from this, you can also chose to unlink your Instagram account from other social media network. You can visit your Instagram setting option, click on account. You will see a section where apps name will be mentioned below with whom you have linked your instagram id. Click on unlink option. Hence, stay secure and protect your social media app.