As part of the company's effort to curb incidents of identity theft and online hacking, photo-sharing app Instagram recently add a two-factor authentication system to improve its security protocols. Instagram said that the feature will not be rolled out to all users at once, instead it will slowly release the feature its users.

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When logging in using two-factor authentication system, a user will receive a temporary code sent through a text message, which serves as the second form of the login process on top of the regular password.

Security experts claim that the two-factor authentication system adds another layer of protection for sensitive user information. Since codes generated through two-factor authentication are only good for a one-time use, hackers will have a hard time figuring out a way to access user accounts even if they have access to email or user passwords.

Just like most companies that use the two-factor authentication system, Instagram will send its second authentication code to users via text message. The two-factor authentication system  is becoming a de facto standard and is being slowly adopted by companies to boost their online security protocols.

There are some reported cases where hackers have bypassed two-factor authentication by hacking a user's mobile phone, but tech analysts claim that Instagram's decision to use the protocol is more geared towards preventing spammers and trolls rather than blocking financially motivated hackers.

While for some casual users, Instagram is just a medium to post selfies and regular photos, a dedicated niche of users use the platform to promote their trade or products. Instagram has become a well-known outlet for professional photographers to flaunt their projects.

According to The Register, artist Rachel Ryle claims that she lost at least 35,000 followers when her Instagram account was hacked. Some Instagram users also claim that they have lost sponsors after their account were hacked.

TagsInstagram, Two-form Authentication, online, online security, Instagram password, Instagram News, Instagram security