Instagram hack locking users out of their accounts

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Instagram hack: Users become victims of a strange account locking hack

In a widespread Instagram hacking campaign, hundreds of users are reporting that their accounts have been compromised. Besides losing access to the Instagram account, the profile image, email address, phone number, and bios related to the accounts of the affected users have been changed too.

Instagram Users Reporting Strange Hacks

Instagram users have been reporting of the bizarre hack since the beginning of August. Users are reporting that they are getting โ€˜logged outโ€™ of their account, and if they try to log in again, it shows that their username no longer exist. The affected users also found hackers hadย altered their profile info and changed contact details.

Many of them saw their profile pictures typically set to a Disney or Pixar character with the new email addresses switching to a Russian .ru email address. Also, their bios and personal information have been deleted.

โ€œMy account has been hacked! Username, email, and password have been changed. Now someone called Laitus Maria has all my pics,โ€ one Instagram user complained. While another disgruntled user tweeted:

Instagram responds to the widespread hack

The Facebook-owned app in aย blog postย said that people who have been locked out of their accounts can regain accessย hereย with a new, secure email address.

The company wrote, โ€œIf you received an email from us notifying you of a change in your email address, and you did not initiate this change, please click the link marked โ€˜revert this changeโ€™ in the email, and then change your password. We advise you pick a strong password.โ€

Instagram hack - account security

Instagram also shared the following safety measures to avoid falling victim to similar hacks:

  • Use a strong passwordโ€”at least six numbers, letters, and symbolsโ€”different from those used elsewhere on the web.
  • Revoke accessย to suspicious third-party applications.
  • Activateย two-factor authentication (2FA).

Instagram added, โ€œWe have dedicated teams helping people to secure their accounts. If you have reached out to us about your account, you will hear back from our team soon.โ€

While the motive behind the attacks on Instagram is still unknown, the use of .ru email addresses indicates that the source may be from Russia or perhaps threat actors pretending to be from the country.

Instagram is currently dependent on text messages forย two-factor authentication (2FA), which is believed to beย less secureย than other app-based 2FA methods. However, the company says that it is working on improving its 2FA settings.

We recommend you to visit the Instagram Help Centre dedicated to hacked accounts for more information. Keep watching this space for more updates!

Kavita Iyer
Kavita Iyerhttps://www.techworm.net
An individual, optimist, homemaker, foodie, a die hard cricket fan and most importantly one who believes in Being Human!!!
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