Initially, Instagram said the bug had only affected a few celebrities but now it seems to be far more than that.
How Hackers had Access to the Instagram Accounts
Hackers were able to exploit a loophole in the app that opened details when a user was asked to reset their password.
This bug gave them access to intercept email addresses and phone numbers after sending false password reset requests.
According to the The Daily Beast, six million accounts could have been hacked and hackers would have created a database of details on the dark web using these accounts.
Instagram has now warned users to be on the look out for any suspicious activity and to report if they find any. It also emphasized that users should double check their security details and change them if necessary.
Mike Krieger, the company’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), said: ‘We quickly fixed the bug, and have been working with law enforcement on the matter.
‘Although we cannot determine which specific accounts may have been impacted, we believe it was a low percentage of Instagram accounts.’
Mr Krieger, who also co-founded Instagram, added: ‘Out of an abundance of caution, we encourage you to be vigilant about the security of your account, and exercise caution if you observe any suspicious activity such as unrecognized incoming calls, texts, or emails.
‘Additionally, we’re encouraging you to report any unusual activity through our reporting tools. You can access those tools by tapping the ‘…’ menu from your profile, selecting “Report aProblem” and then ‘Spam or Abuse’.’
How to fix your Instagram account if it had been hacked
According to Kaspersky, you need to update your application to the latest version and change your password details to a stronger one as the bug only affected 2016 versions of the Instagram app.
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