Hackers exploited an AI vulnerability to hack Barack Obama’s page

Hackers hacked the official page of former US President Barack Obama on the social network Instagram. The hack used an artificial intelligence-based chatbot developed by Meta, the Guardian writes.

The last publication on the former president’s page was dated 2017, when his term ended. Recently, however, Iranian propaganda materials have appeared on it, including a claim that the White House is under Shiite control and a photo of General Qasem Soleimani, the liquidated commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force.

Other accounts were also hacked, including the cosmetics company Sephora and US Space Command Sergeant Major John Bentivegna. Meta rushed to fix the problem by deleting the content posted by the hackers.

Some users reported that it took them several hours to get a response from a human rather than a chatbot. Among them are those who use social networks as a source of income.