Instagram Secures Platform After AI Chatbot Exploit Leads To Account Hijackings

Instagram Patches Security Vulnerability

Instagram has fixed a security flaw that allowed hackers to take control of user accounts by exploiting Meta’s AI-powered support chatbot. The vulnerability reportedly enabled attackers to add unauthorized email addresses to accounts and reset passwords without access to the legitimate account owner’s email.

Exploit Mechanics Detailed

Reports of account hijackings surfaced over the weekend through posts on Reddit and warnings shared on X. Among the accounts reportedly affected were the Obama-era White House account and the account of U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sergeant John Bentivegna, raising concerns about the potential scope of the vulnerability.

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How The Attack Unfolded

Security researcher Jane Wong said her account was compromised after her password was changed without her knowledge. In a post on X, Wong described receiving repeated password reset notifications before losing access to her account. A widely shared demonstration of the exploit showed how an attacker could use a VPN, interact with Meta’s AI Support Assistant and submit an alternative email address. After receiving a verification code, the attacker could reset the password and gain control of the account without accessing the owner’s original email.

Industry Reactions And The Path Forward

Instagram spokesperson Andy Stone confirmed that the vulnerability has been fixed, although Meta has not disclosed how many accounts may have been affected. The incident highlights the security challenges that can emerge as technology companies expand the use of AI-powered support tools and automated account management systems.

Ongoing Security Challenges

The breach has renewed scrutiny of how AI-driven customer support systems handle account recovery and identity verification requests. While the flaw was addressed quickly, the incident demonstrates how automated support processes can become targets for abuse when security controls fail to account for unexpected forms of manipulation.

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Cyprus Moves To Unlock More Solar Power With First Large-Scale Battery Storage Contracts

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 23, 2026

Cyprus is preparing to sign the first contracts for large-scale electricity storage batteries on Tuesday, a project expected to improve the grid’s ability to manage growing renewable energy production and reduce the curtailment of solar power.

A Long-Awaited Grid Fix

Energy Minister Michalis Damianos said the agreements will cover 120MW of centralised storage capacity that will be managed by the transmission system operator. The project, valued at €50 million, is expected to deliver the batteries in January 2027, with installation scheduled to take place over the following two to three months.

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According to Damianos, the system should become operational by the summer of 2027, a period when both electricity demand and solar generation typically peak. He said the storage facilities will allow energy currently lost due to a lack of storage capacity to be retained and used when needed.

Why Storage Has Become Essential

The batteries are designed to absorb excess renewable electricity during periods of overproduction and release it back into the system when demand increases. Their introduction is expected to reduce the curtailments currently affecting solar generators and improve the use of renewable energy already being produced across the island.

Former Energy Minister George Papanastasiou told Sigma that planning for the project began in 2023 in cooperation with the European Commission. The objective was to address growing losses from renewable energy generation that the electricity network cannot currently absorb.

By the end of May 2026, approximately 160,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy had been lost through curtailments affecting residential photovoltaic systems, commercial solar parks, and wind installations. According to Papanastasiou, renewable electricity production exceeds demand during several hours of the day, leaving part of the output unable to be utilised.

The Cost Of Growing Faster Than The Grid

The challenge has become more pronounced as renewable generation capacity has expanded faster than the infrastructure required to manage surplus electricity. Data from the distribution system operator show that around 306 gigawatt hours of renewable energy were curtailed in 2025, compared with approximately 167 gigawatt hours a year earlier.

Papanastasiou acknowledged criticism that storage deployment has not kept pace with the growth of renewable energy projects, although he noted that regulatory and financing challenges slowed implementation. He added that the development of storage and generation capacity needs to progress in parallel, a challenge faced by many energy markets.

Private Capital Is Also Entering The Market

The state-backed battery installation forms part of a broader expansion of energy storage capacity across Cyprus. Alongside the project managed by the transmission system operator, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) and private developers are advancing their own investments.

Current figures show 36 applications for battery storage projects with a combined requested capacity of approximately 925MW. The EAC has submitted applications for storage facilities in Dhekelia and Moni with a combined capacity of 180MW, while private-sector projects exceeding 150MW have progressed through various stages of the approval process.

Grid Stability Comes First

According to Papanastasiou, the state-owned battery system will primarily serve grid stability and energy security objectives rather than operate as a commercial trading asset. The facilities will store electricity during periods of surplus generation and release it when demand rises or when supply pressures emerge.

Privately operated storage projects could also contribute to the market by storing lower-cost renewable electricity and dispatching it later when demand and prices are higher.

As renewable energy continues to account for a larger share of Cyprus’ electricity mix, storage infrastructure is expected to play an increasingly important role in balancing supply and demand, reducing curtailments, and improving the overall efficiency of the power system.

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