Data Breach Reports Trigger Global concerns have been triggered in the wake of reports that data associated with millions of user accounts on the photo-sharing site Instagram has been exposed. This has sparked fear in the minds of users across the world with respect to data protection practices on the site.
What Data Was Apparently Leaked
As reported in the preliminary claims making rounds on the internet, the compromised data could include usernames, email addresses, profiles, among other details. Although there are no confirmations about the details of compromised data, such as passwords or payment information, there are warnings about risks of phishing, among other activities associated with data compromise.
Meta’s Response to Allegations against Electioneering
Meta, parent to Instagram, has in the past reported that many of these notifications are a result of data scraping and not a system breach. Data scraping involves harvesting information that is publicly available, which, although legal in many jurisdictions, raises concerns over privacy issues. Currently, there has been no verification of a new breach by the company, but instead continues to lock down its systems to prevent such breaches.
Are Indian Instagram Accounts At Risk?
It particularly pertains to India, as users from this country comprise one of the largest bases on Instagram. According to cybersecurity analysts, the concern does not specifically target Indian accounts, which remain susceptible to breaches if global data sets leak, though there has been no breach specifically identified in India as yet.
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
Experts recommend using all possible security features, including two-factor authentication, changing passwords regularly, being cautious with links, and refraining from disclosing too much personal info. This will go far in preventing hacking.
