Instagram has warned users that hackers used a bug in its system to access high profile accounts.
The Facebook owned site said the attack was targeted at high-profile users, and it is believed one victim of the attack could be Selena Gomez, who had her Instagram account hacked.
The 25-year-old singer’s page was seized on Monday and several full-frontal naked photos of ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber, 23, were posted shortly after.
Online trouble: Selena Gomez had her Instagram hacked on Monday and the culprit then posted three naked photos of her ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber
The pop star’s account was swiftly shut down and her team have now regained control of it.
‘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.
It claims no account passwords were accessed.
‘We fixed the bug swiftly and are running a thorough investigation,’ it said.
‘Our main concern is for the safety of our community and, out of an abundance of caution, we are reaching out to all verified accounts.
‘At this point we believe this effort was targeted at high-profile users. We encourage you to be extra vigilant about the security of your account and exercise caution if you encounter any suspicious activity such as unrecognized incoming calls, texts and emails.’
Gomez is is the most-followed person on the photo sharing site with 125 million followers.
The nude photos of Bieber were those taken by paparazzi when the Sorry hitmaker was vacationing in Bora Bora in 2015 – the former couple weren’t together at the time.
The Facebook owned site sent this email to all users with a verified account, and said the attack was targeted at high-profile users, and it is believed one victim of the attack could be Selena Gomez, who had her Instagram account hacked.
The offenders who posted the images included their own Instagram handles in the caption which read ‘LOOK AT THIS N***A LIL SHRIMPY’ before claiming they ‘run da scene.’
According to TMZ, the Instagram users tagged in the post appear to be random trolls with only a handful of photos between them.
Swift action: Selena’s account was immediately taken down and her team have now regained control of it. She is pictured with her former flame Bieber in 2011
Hacked: It was these three images (uncensored) that were posted together to Selena’s account and a caption that read ‘LOOK AT THIS N***A LIL SHRIMPY’
Members of Gomez’s team took to Twitter with updates on the situation before the Bad Liar singer’s account was fully restored.
Justin previously opened up about feeling violated by the photos taken of him when he was enjoying a tropical vacation, stripping off on a private terrace.
‘Like, I feel like I can’t step outside and feel like I can go outside naked,’ he told Access Hollywood in 2015.
‘Like, you should feel comfortable in your own space… especially that far away.’
Selena dated Bieber on and off from 2010 to 2015.
She’s now moved on with Bella Hadid’s ex-boyfriend The Weeknd, 27, who she has been dating since the start of the year – just weeks after the supermodel, 20, split from him.
Members of Gomez’s team took to Twitter with updates on the situation before the Bad Liar singer’s account was fully restored
Back online: Fans helped to spread the word that the situation was being dealt with
Both Selena and The Weeknd were a no-show at Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum, even though they were thought to be attending.
According to TMZ, the Starboy hitmaker ‘just didn’t feel like’ attending, despite being announced as a performer by organizers.
The Weeknd – real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye – was also nominated for four awards at the annual ceremony.
A source told TMZ: ‘The Weeknd has been on the road for a prolonged period of time and just didn’t feel up to his VMAs gig.
‘In his mind, he booked the gig a while ago, before concert fatigue set in, and he just felt differently in the days before the show.
‘He’s about to hit the road again and there wont be a break until December.’
The naked photos of Bieber were apparently those taken by paparazzi when the Sorry hitmaker was vacationing in Bora Bora in 2015. The pop star is pictured out in Los Angeles last week