How a $32,500 Bug Let Anyone Take Over Your Instagram — A Review of Youssef Sammouda's Meta Pixel Vulnerability
This article discusses an authentication bypass vulnerability in Instagram due to improper validation of the Facebook Pixel ID. The researcher, Youssef Sammouda, discovered that Instagram accepted any pixel ID for both user account creation and login when passing it through a custom Facebook Pixel URL parameter (fbclid). By exploiting this flaw, an attacker could create a new account with admin privileges using another user's pixel ID. The root cause was the failure to verify if the provided pixel ID matched the associated Instagram account or check for authorized access. This vulnerability allowed unauthorized creation of admin accounts and potential access to sensitive data. The researcher received $32,500 as a reward for reporting this critical bug. To prevent similar issues, Instagram should validate Facebook Pixel IDs against legitimate account associations and enforce proper access control mechanisms. Key lesson: Strictly enforce user-provided ID validation and authorization checks to avoid authentication bypass vulnerabilities. #BugBounty #AuthenticationBypass #WebSecurity #SocialMediaSecurity #Infosec

https://medium.com/@vivekps143/how-a-32-500-bug-let-anyone-take-over-your-instagram-a-review-of-youssef-sammoudas-meta-pixel-cc4b6295456a?source=rss------bug_bounty-5

Learn How To See Who Screenshotted Your Public Snapchat Story

Snapchat is a popular media-sharing and messaging platform app that lets users share files like photos, videos, and texts. Each message is called a Snap, and they disappear after the receiving user views them. Stories can exist for up to 24 hours.

#snapchattips #socialmediaprivacy #snapchatstory #snapchathack #seewhoscreenshots #snapchatfeatures #socialmediasecurity #privacyonsnapchat #snapchatstories

https://www.startupeditor.com/........how-to-see-who-s

👉 WhatsApp device linking is being abused to hijack accounts — attackers don’t need malware, just a moment of trust. Secure linking is the new frontline. 📱🔓 #SocialMediaSecurity #IdentityAbuse

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/whatsapp-device-linking-abused-in-account-hijacking-attacks/

Perth hacker Michael Clapsis jailed after setting up fake Qantas Wi-Fi, stealing sex videos

A Perth hacker who stole intimate videos from women and set up a fake Qantas Wi-Fi network to…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #afp #Airportsecurity #AU #Australia #datasecurity #DataTheft #fakewifi #michaelclapsis #perthairport #perthcourts #perthmagistratescourt #perthnews #Qantas #socialmediasecurity #wacourts #wadatatheft #wanews #WAPolice #wifi
https://www.newsbeep.com/277013/

This is a pretty clever, and concerning, attack vector. Scammers found a security blind spot by hiding malware links in ad metadata, a place that seems to be invisible to X's filters. But the real issue is how they weaponized the platform's own AI, Grok, to legitimize the scam.
By simply asking the AI to reveal the link, they turn a trusted system account into a distribution channel. It’s a solid reminder that when we integrate AI so deeply into platforms, we also create new ways for people to exploit that integration.
TL;DR
⚠️ Scammers hide malware links in an ad's 'From:' metadata field.
🤖 They publicly ask Grok AI to identify the link from the ad.
🔓 Grok reads the hidden metadata and posts the malicious link in a reply.
🛡️ This bypasses filters and leverages the AI's trusted status to fool users.
https://hackread.com/scammers-exploit-grok-ai-video-ad-scam-x-malware/

#CyberSecurity #AI #ThreatIntel #SocialMediaSecurity

Social Media Hacks Surge in 2025.
- AI scams, deepfakes & phishing are hijacking accounts fast.
- 429M+ accounts breached even pros aren’t safe.
- Use strong passwords, 2FA, audit logins, and act fast.

#SocialMediaSecurity #CyberAlert #2FA #Deepfakes #Phishing #StaySafe #HackProof #InfoSec2025

Read Full Article Here :- https://www.techi.com/tips-to-protect-your-social-media-accounts/

Social Media Security: Threats and Protection Methods

Social media security encompasses the strategies and practices designed to protect personal and organizational information shared on social media platforms

continuation of the article: 👉 https://denizhalil.com/2023/07/24/social-media-security-tips/

#cybersecurity #socialengineering #socialmediasecurity #malwareprevention #onlinesafety

Concerned about Tumblr using your data for AI training? 🛑 Find out how to opt out and protect your privacy today! 🔐 Don’t let your data be exploited. #Tumblr #DataPrivacy #AI #CyberSecurity #PrivacyFirst #TechTips #SocialMediaSecurity

https://pupuweb.com/worried-tumblr-use-data-how-stop-prevent-opt-out-ai-training/

China Cautions Citizens Against Unwittingly Leaking State Secrets:
Beijing has advised against taking or uploading pictures of sensitive areas and discouraged public discussions of military matters on social media.

https://www.defensemirror.com/news/37176/China_Cautions_Citizens_Against_Unwittingly_Leaking_State_Secrets

#China #MSS #espionage #satelliteimagery #foreignintelligence #spysatellites #cybersecurity #datasecurity #socialmediasecurity #onlineprivacy

China Cautions Citizens Against Unwittingly Leaking State Secrets:
Beijing has advised against taking or uploading pictures of sensitive areas and discouraged public discussions of military matters on social media.

https://www.defensemirror.com/news/37176/China_Cautions_Citizens_Against_Unwittingly_Leaking_State_Secrets

#China #MSS #espionage #satelliteimagery #foreignintelligence #spysatellites #cybersecurity #datasecurity #socialmediasecurity #onlineprivacy