Pinterest Users Still Getting Hacked, Spam Floods Facebook And Twitter

Pinterest users last month complained on Facebook and Twitter that their accounts were being hacked, and that spam was flooding their other social media profiles.

The problem continues to grow with more users reporting that their accounts are being hacked.

Searches on Facebook showed that there was a sharp increase in complaints regarding Pinterest accounts being hacked over the past few days. A similar search on Twitter showed that Pinterest users received emails saying that their Pinterest accounts had been hacked from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Morocco, Russia, and Vietnam.

The Next Web theorized that multiple hackers across the world could be using a similar method to get into Pinterest accounts, but that it’s more likely that one group is using a botnet to get into accounts and post spam.

If you’re being hacked, head on over to Pinterest’s Account Security page. From there, here are Pinterest’s recommendations:

• First, change your password immediately by logging in and going to the Settings page. Then, you can delete any pins and/or boards that were created.
• If changing your password does not solve the issue, please submit a ticket for assistance.
• Unfortunately, we are unable to restore any deleted boards or pins.
• Please submit a ticket if you have any idea how someone may have gained access to your login information. Consider whether you have recently encountered any misleading 3rd party apps, if you use web browser extensions, or if you use the same password on multiple sites. We also recommend running trusted antivirus software to check your computer for malware.

Until the problem can be fixed internally, Pinterest has released the following statement regarding the hacks:

[quote type=”large” align=”left”] “It’s important to us that all the content on Pinterest is authentic and people’s accounts are secure,” a Pinterest spokesperson said in a statement. “That’s why we’re constantly monitoring for suspicious activity. Unfortunately, though, spammers are out there attempting to compromise people’s Internet credentials and then trying those credentials on major websites. We respond to user reports and send emails to pinners with suspicious logins to help them identify the issue and protect their pins. We hope pinners will remember to use strong and unique passwords for their accounts.” [/quote]