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?
Just as well I'm not on Instagram!