German Influencers Hit by Instagram Account Takeovers: Meta's Security Under Scrutiny

A concerning trend of Instagram account takeovers is sweeping through Germany's influencer community, with high-profile personalities like Evelyn Burdecki and Katja Krasavice becoming the latest victims. These sophisticated attacks have left the celebrities locked out of their accounts, sometimes for days, while hackers alter profile information and in some cases attempt to extort the original owners.

Security analysts tracking these incidents note several disturbing patterns. The attackers appear to be targeting accounts with substantial followings (often in the millions), suggesting they may be after either the accounts' promotional value or the ability to scam followers. In Krasavice's case, reports indicate she was visibly distraught after losing access to her account, which serves as a primary business channel.

The exact attack vectors remain unclear, but cybersecurity professionals speculate several possibilities:

1. Exploitation of Instagram's account recovery system vulnerabilities
2. SIM-swapping attacks bypassing two-factor authentication
3. Phishing campaigns specifically tailored to high-profile users
4. Insider threats or compromised credentials from third-party apps

What makes these attacks particularly damaging is Instagram's often slow response to verified account recovery requests. Influencers report spending critical hours or days navigating Meta's support channels while their business operations suffer. The financial impact can be substantial - many German influencers rely on Instagram for brand partnerships worth tens of thousands of euros per post.

Meta's security protocols for high-profile accounts have come under fire following these incidents. Unlike some competitors, Instagram doesn't appear to offer special protection tiers for public figures beyond standard verification. Security experts recommend that influencers:

• Enable two-factor authentication using authenticator apps rather than SMS
• Regularly review connected third-party applications
• Establish direct contacts with platform security teams
• Avoid using personal phone numbers for account recovery

The German cases follow similar account takeover waves in other markets, suggesting this may be part of an international cybercriminal operation specializing in social media assets. With influencer marketing becoming a $21 billion global industry, these digital assets represent increasingly valuable targets.

As investigations continue, the cybersecurity community awaits Meta's official response and potential platform security enhancements. Until then, public figures remain vulnerable to these disruptive and potentially costly attacks.