Instagram is testing new features to help users regain control of their accounts after they’ve been hacked
- Instagram is bolstering security against thieves who steal users’ accounts
- The new features will add more authentication and other safeguards
- Hackers steal accounts and sell them to bidders or hold them for ransom
- Influencers and people with desirable handles are often targeted
Instagram will test new security and recovery features meant to guard against thieves who steal users’ accounts.
In some cases, Instagram handles are sold on the black market or held for ransom by hackers.
According to Vice, the new measures, which started rolling out on Monday, come amid a flurry of issues regarding hacked accounts that made it impossible for some users to regain control even after notifying Instagram.
Hackers sometimes commandeer Instagram accounts and sell them to bidders in online black markets or hold them for ransom. Stock image
‘We know that losing access to your account can be a distressing experience,’ wrote an Instagram spokesperson in a statement to Vice.
‘We have measures in place to stop accounts from being hacked in the first place, as well as measures to help people recover their accounts.
‘But we heard from the community that these measures aren’t enough, and people are struggling to regain access to their accounts.’
Added security will look to clamp down on hackers targeting valuable handles like those that are only one-character in length which, after being commandeered, can be sold on the dark web and other forums to the highest bidder.
Instagram says the new features will create a more robust recovery process through which victims can have a six-digit code sent to their email or phone.
Unlike the previous recovery process, which in many cases was insufficient since hackers also had access to email addresses and phone numbers, the code may only be used on the device where the recovery quest originated.
Additionally, to stop hackers from simply changing the account’s name and then quickly claiming the handle once it’s available, Instagram will place a lock on compromised handles once they’re reported stolen making them unable to be claimed for a certain period of time.
The new features will make it more difficult for thieves and address a flurry of complaints that the social media company was failing to respond to hacked accounts. Stock image
Capers involving the hijacking of desirable Instagram handles have proven lucrative for hackers in the past, with some accounts fetching thousands of dollars from their victims or perusers of online black markets.
Last year Vice reported that hackers had successfully targeted online influencers in the fitness and and lifestyle sphere by stealing their accounts and then offering them back to proprietors for a ransom paid in cryptocurrency.
In some cases, Instagram failed to address the theft of accounts adequately or responded only with its automated chat responses, reports Vice.
Hackers are reportedly able to gain access to influencers’ accounts via number of methods, including through phishing emails. In one documented hack, an influencer was sent an email from someone posing as a brand which contained a malicious link.
Once compromised hackers changed account passwords and demanded its owners pay a ransom.
Instagram says its new security features are available to Android users and are in the process of being rolled out to Instagram’s iOS users.
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION ONLINE?
Because hackers are becoming more creative, security experts are warning that consumers need to take all possible measures to protect their identities (file photo)
- Make your authentication process two-pronged whenever possible. You should choose this option on websites that offer it because when an identity-specific action is required on top of entering your password and username, it becomes significantly harder for fraudsters to access your information.
- Secure your phone. Avoiding public Wifi and installing a screen lock are simple steps that can hinder hackers. Some fraudsters have begun to immediately discount secure phones altogether. Installing anti-malware can also be beneficial.
- Subscribe to alerts. A number of institutions that provide financial services, credit card issuers included, offer customers the chance to be notified when they detect suspicious activity. Turn those notifications on to stay informed about credit card activity linked to your account.
- Be careful when issuing transactions online. Again, some institutions offer notifications to help with this, which will alert you when your card is used online. It might also be helpful to institute limits on amounts that can be spent with your card online.