From CNET: Instagram is testing new features that could make it harder for hackers to steal accounts and hold them for ransom. Hackers have been targeting high-profile Instagram accounts owned by influencers, and threatening to delete them unless victims pay up.
First reported by Motherboard, victims had to pay more than $100 to retrieve their accounts, some of which had more than 50,000 followers before it was taken over.In other cases, hackers will leverage accounts with massive followers and sell off those accounts for as much as $100,000, The Atlantic reported.
These victims often can't retrieve their profiles through traditional methods because the hackers will take measures like changing the account's email address and phone numbers to prevent recoveries.
"We know that losing access to your account can be a distressing experience. 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," Instagram said in a statement. "But we heard from the community that these measures aren't enough, and people are struggling to regain access to their accounts."
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