An IT security product company has reported an influx of Instagram profile hackings. Affected users’ profiles are reportedly being altered with sexually suggestive imagery to lure users to adult dating and porn spam.
Nick Shaw, EMEA Vice President and General Manager at Norton by Symantec said: “Scammers are naturally attracted to large online communities and with 500m monthly active users, Instagram makes a prime target for maximum impact. The influx of affected Instagram accounts identified by Symantec’s Response team showcases a scenario when a hack could not only compromise your account but also damage your online reputation through profile alterations.
“Concerning statistics from our 2015 Internet Security Threat Report, revealed that the UK is the second most targeted country globally for social media scams. Therefore, to stay safe when using Instagram, you should turn on your two-factor authentication, which would automatically send a verification code to your mobile device when you try to log in from an unrecognised device. However, if you have been a victim of a hack or have identified an account that might have been compromised you shouldn’t remain passive and immediately report this.”
The full report is available at: http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/instagram-accounts-hacked-altered-promote-adult-dating-spam.
