This week, Malwarebytes discovered that hackers stole the sensitive information of 17.5 million Instagram accounts. This data includes usernames, physical addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. Cybercriminals can abuse this information to impersonate trusted brands. They can trick users and steal their passwords.
| Critically, this data is already being offered on the dark web. Individual users are also receiving legitimate password reset notifications from Instagram. |
| What to do: |
| Be cautious of emails and messages that claim to come from Instagram. They are from malicious hackers. These hackers try to trick you into handing over your password. If you’re concerned, sign into your Instagram account and reset your password to a new, strong, unique password. |
| Check if you were exposed by using Malwarebytes or Windows Defender |
| Malwarebytes vs Microsoft Defender After testing both antivirus solutions, Malwarebytes to be the more effective overall. It supports a broader range of devices and offers basic and advanced security features that give more comprehensive protection. Microsoft Defender was not too far behind. It is free and delivers solid results in lab tests. It also covers all the essential security needs. Either way protect your computer by daily scanning to be safe. |