A phishing campaign emerges on Instagram aimed at scamming users by offering the well-known badge with a blue check, that is the symbol that distinguishes verified accounts, belonging, for example, to public figures, celebrities or brands.
The campaign includes spear-phishing techniques via e-mail: a warning is sent that Instagram has examined the user's account, deeming it eligible for the blue check.
That the user is prompted for is to click a button embedded in the email to access the application form, which must be completed to submit the request. Users who fall into the trap are then prompted to proceed with a form expiration notice within 48 hours.
As soon as the procedure is completed, the user receives a verification confirmation with the promise of a subsequent contact from Instagram. Finally, the victim is sent a fake ID related to the request.
Taking advantage of the distraction, the lack of attention to detail and the possible propensity on the part of the user to receive the blue check, this campaign would have affected thousands of users .
That said, it's always advisable to use two-factor authentication wherever possible and Instagram has been offering for some time now. this option.
Ireland Fines Instagram $400M for Violating Child Privacy Policies
Ireland’s data privacy regulator has issued a record $402 million (€405 million) fine against social media powerhouse Instagram following an investigation that found it broke laws regulating the handling of children’s data online.
Instagram parent Meta Platforms has said it will appeal the fine.
The Irish investigation, which began in 2020, found that Instagram allowed child users aged between 13 and 17 to operate business accounts on Instagram, which facilitated the publication of the users’ phone numbers and/or email addresses. That, ruled Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner, was a violation of the country’s laws protecting child data online. The Data Protection Commission regulates Meta’s companies, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, as well as Apple, Google and other tech giants, which have their European headquarters in Ireland.