Hackers are constantly looking for ways to attack and monetize. We are used to seeing ransomware attacks against businesses as well as home users. Basically what they do is block access to files or systems and ask for money so that the victim can enter again. Now they do something like that, but by stealing Instagram accounts and then asking for a ransom so they can be in control again.
They steal Instagram accounts and ask for money
Instagram is not only a social network where we can upload photos, but it is really the workplace for many people. They use this platform to promote brands, sell products, etc. We are talking about organizations and companies, but also influencers and anyone who simply has an online store and wants to have more visibility.
What cybercriminals are doing now is taking advantage of this we mentioned and stealing Instagram accounts. They know that this causes a very important economic problem for many and they can have the option of asking for money and making a profit.
How are accounts stolen? According to the cybersecurity company Secureworks , they are based on Phishing attacks. They look for the victim to log in through a false link and in this way they can steal the access codes and have total control of the account. This way they could change the password and prevent the person or company behind that account from accessing it.
The bait is usually some problem or something the victim has allegedly done wrong. For example, an alleged copyright infringement when uploading a photo, an alert that someone has been able to enter the account, etc. In this way, the victim clicks on that link and is asked to log in to solve the problem. But of course, the data is really being sent to the attackers themselves.
From there, the hackers change the password and even the name of the account. They put the generic name pharabenfarway and followed by the number of followers, as indicated by Secureworks. In addition, they put a comment on the account indicating that the account has been hijacked and ask the victim for a ransom. This ransom can reach up to around €40,000, depending on whether it is a large company or simply a private user.
Protect yourself from these attacks
So, what can we do to be protected and prevent our Instagram account from being stolen? The main thing is common sense . We have seen that they use Phishing attacks to deceive. We must never log in through any link we receive, even if it appears to be legitimate; We must always access from the official application or official website.
On the other hand, it is also convenient to have the devices protected . A good antivirus, whether on the computer or on the mobile, will prevent the entry of malware that can steal information, insert a virus and thus steal access codes for social networks or any platform.
But a factor that must also be taken into account is that of correctly updating the equipment . Sometimes vulnerabilities arise that can be exploited by hackers. These failures can be the gateway to steal passwords. This means that we must always have the latest versions available.