Instagram deactivates many accounts that were stolen & sold by hackers

Instagram is disabling hundreds of accounts associated with a hacker group that used exploitative tactics to steal and resell them.

Instagram disabled high-value, single-word usernames that were stolen by hackers and resold, the New York Times reports. 

Twitter, TikTok and Facebook took similar measures as well. The social media platforms are reportedly cracking down on those responsible for the hacking of highly coveted usernames. 

Such names have been dubbed “O.G. usernames,” and can include keywords like @Writer, @Killer, or @Gamer, for example. They’re considered high-value because they come from early adopters who jumped on these platforms as they launched. 

Once hackers obtain the usernames, they’ve been known to buy and sell them on online forums and group messaging apps.

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