Instagram data leak: 50 million accounts exposed

A database of 50 million Instagram users personal details including email addresses and phone numbers were found unsecured on an online server linked to an Indian marketing company called Chtrbox.

An Indian researcher strumbled across the database by chance and immediately approached US technology news outlet TechCrunch who contacted several people on the list who confirmed the data was correct and that they had no involvement with Chtrbox.

Chtrbox pulled the database offline as soon as contacted by TechCrunch and are yet to comment on the matter.

Instagram on the otherhand issused a statement saying "We're looking into the issue to understand if the data described – including email and phone numbers – was from Instagram or from other sources,” and “We're also inquiring with Chtrbox to understand where this data came from and how it became publicly available.”

Two years ago, Instagram admitted a security bug in its developer API had allowed hackers to obain email address and phone numbers of six million Instagram accounts in what appears to be a similar style of data breach.

Are you worried about how these large technology companies are managing your personal data? 

2 comments

Just as well I'm not on Instagram!

Me, too.

Unfortunately it is not just information that is gained from Instagram that hackers get access to.... there is Google, Twitter etc one could go on and on..... any social media, even this one has information about you that others are willing to pay for. Instagram has been caught out but it makes one wonder about the companies that have not.

.... not to mention the info galore that the government that has on you. 

Hence if you are connected to the Internet or phone, actually living in the modern society, information about you is at risk ... walk into a park or a shop, you are being monitored and information about you is being stored.

2 comments



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