As Many as 95 Million Bots Operate on Instagram! A Problem That's Hard to Combat.
As much as 10% of Instagram accounts may be fake, according to recently conducted research. The matter is serious – warn analysts from Check Point Software. The bots behind these profiles often pose a serious threat, including to our personal data.
Although the platform offers tools for reporting fake accounts, such as online forms or in-app features, users often complain that the process of removing fake profiles is slow and ineffective. In some cases, real accounts are even mistakenly suspended. According to the latest data, as many as 10% of all Instagram accounts may be fake. What's more, such profiles can be very convincing – some of them even gather tens of thousands of followers.
Fake Profiles a Threat to Personal Data
According to Check Point specialists, impersonation on Instagram can have various causes, from a malicious joke to advanced cyberattacks. The most common motive is an attempt to extract personally identifiable information (PII). Fake profiles can persuade users to share confidential information, such as login credentials or national ID numbers. Experts also point to the use of accounts for spreading malicious software (malvertising). Malicious accounts use fake ads to direct users to sites containing, for example, viruses. Fake job offers are also increasingly becoming a problem. Cybercriminals create fictitious recruitment ads to extort money or commit identity theft.
The reason impersonation on Instagram occurs is quite simple: creating an Instagram account is trivial, while reporting fake accounts can be a time-consuming and ineffective process.
Of course, this doesn't mean that Instagram (or its owner, Meta) doesn't care about the problem of account impersonation or isn't taking steps to solve it. The problem, however, is that Instagram may need a lot of time to take action against fake profiles. During an analysis of accounts impersonating Mark Zlatic, an influential finance expert, Business Insider detected twenty individual accounts, one of which had nearly 100,000 followers! This shows how convincing such profiles can be.
How to Protect Yourself from Impersonation
How to protect yourself from impersonation?
- Educating employees and customers Companies should teach their employees as well as customers about the risks associated with fake accounts. Particular emphasis should be placed on caution when clicking suspicious links or sharing personal information.
- Monitoring accounts Regular monitoring of Instagram activity using specialized monitoring tools allows for faster detection of fake profiles. These tools enable automatic scanning and identification of accounts impersonating a company or its employees.
- Swift action If you detect impersonation of your brand, don't limit yourself to reporting it via Instagram's form. Use the services of companies specializing in rapid removal of fake accounts, such as Cyberint, which achieve a removal effectiveness rate of 97% for such profiles.
Impersonation on Instagram is a serious threat to privacy, reputation, and financial security. Although combating this phenomenon requires time and effort, education, monitoring, and cooperation with experts can significantly reduce the risk.
