Several million Instagram user accounts left exposed

A massive database containing information of several million Instagram users has been found to be exposed. It contained contact information about brand accounts, social media influencers as well as celebrities, many of whom had millions of followers. The database was hosted by Amazon Web Services and was left without as much as a password, allowing unrestricted access to the 49 million records to anyone who knew where to look.

Each of the records contained data from the Instagram accounts. The information included profile picture, user bio, verification status, and also email address and phone numbers. The security lapse was discovered by a cyber-security researcher and was traced to a social media marketing company based in India. The company in question routinely paid influencers to promote various types of content through their accounts. Additionally, some of the information found in the exposed database was later verified by contacting the actual people whose information was left wide open.

The company pulled the database offline shortly after the leak was exposed and declined to comment about their oversight. Moreover, the firm also declined to clarify as to how they obtained personal information about Instagram users.

Lapses in security such as this are not uncommon. Various firms from around the world have had sensitive information exposed on a publicly accessible cloud. As more and more people from around the world use internet services and social media, cybersecurity is paramount. Corporations have a greater responsibility towards maintaining the integrity of their data.