Hackers obtain contact details of high-profile Instagram users

Rappler.com

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Hackers obtain contact details of high-profile Instagram users
Instagram alerts all verified accounts of a hack that pilfered email addresses and phone numbers but not password details

MANILA, Philippines – Image-sharing social network Instagram sent an email to all verified accounts, alerting them on a hacking that successfully stole some contact information. 

“We recently discovered that one or more individuals obtained unlawful access to a number of high-profile Instagram users’ contact information – specifically email address and phone number – by exploiting a bug in an Instagram API,” Instagram said in the email sent on Thursday, August 31, Philippine time. 

The Facebook-owned social network also said that no passwords were compromised and that the exploit had been sealed as investigations continue. 

Instagram said that at the moment, it believed that the hack targeted high-profile users. They warned the latter to be extra vigilant and to be wary of suspicious activities “such as unrecognized incoming calls, texts and emails.” 

Instagram did not specify which accounts were targeted nor how many were affected. Coincidentally, the Instagram account of Selena Gomez – the network’s most followed account with 125 million followers – was hacked on Monday, August 28, posting nude pictures of ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber. While Gomez is the network’s most high-profile user, there has been no direct evidence linking the incidents.  

The company also reminded users to fortify their accounts: “To make your account more secure, ensure two-factor authentication is enabled and pick a strong, unique password and keep it safe.” The advice should apply not just to verified users but also to the whole community, comprised of 700 million users, based on figures released by the service in April.

Exploitable bugs are present in all apps and could pop up anytime. While this incident was limited to high-profile users, it’s possible that hackers could very well exploit another bug in the future, targeting a larger userbase. – Rappler.com

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