Instagram Removes Hundreds of Stolen Accounts as Hacks Escalate

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

Members of the group, known as OGUsers, are receiving cease and desist letters from Instagram’s parent, Facebook Inc, which is also coordinating with law enforcement.

The group was particularly focused on obtaining rare usernames with handles of fewer than five letters, such as @h4ck or @sick, that would be valuable for resale in a secondary market for Instagram accounts. Facebook estimates that OGUsers, which has operated since 2017, is responsible for millions of dollars worth of such transactions. The ...