Hackers Hijack Instagram Accounts Through Meta’s AI Flaw

Meta’s AI-powered Instagram support bot was exploited by hackers, allowing them to hijack accounts—including Barack Obama’s White House account, Sephora, and U.S. Space Force officials—simply by asking the bot to change recovery details. Meta has patched the flaw, but the incident highlights serious risks in using AI for sensitive security functions.

Meta launched its AI-powered Instagram Support Bot in December 2025, with a global rollout expanding in March 2026. It was designed to provide 24/7 account help, including password resets, scam reporting, and privacy management, but was later exploited by hackers due to weak safeguards.

The Instagram Support Bot was meant to simplify account recovery, but its exploitation shows how AI-driven customer support can become an attack surface if not properly safeguarded.

What Happened

• Exploit Method: Hackers tricked Meta’s AI support chatbot into linking a target Instagram account to a new attacker-controlled email.
• Password Reset: Once linked, the bot facilitated a password reset, locking out the legitimate owner.
• Bypassing Safeguards: Attackers used VPNs to spoof locations and bypass fraud detection.
• No Alerts: Victims did not receive SMS, push notifications, or warning emails during the takeover.

High-Profile Accounts Compromised

Account	Impact
Obama-era White House Instagram (@obamawhitehouse)	Defaced with politically inflammatory content
Sephora (official account)	Hijacked and disrupted
U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sergeant John Bentivegna	Personal account compromised
Rare “OG” handles (@hey, @jowo)	Valued at over $1M in underground markets

Why It Matters

• AI Security Risks: The bot had backend privileges but lacked identity verification safeguards.
• Prompt Injection Vulnerability: Attackers exploited natural language prompts to override intended security checks.
• Broader Trend: Similar AI manipulation attacks have occurred elsewhere (e.g., dealership chatbots offering cars for $1).

Meta’s Response

• Patch Released: Meta confirmed the vulnerability was fixed on June 1, 2026.
• Account Recovery: Impacted accounts are being secured, though Meta has not disclosed the total number affected.
• Future Safeguards: Renewed scrutiny over reliance on AI for account recovery and password management.

What Users Should Do

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Still critical for other attack vectors.
• Check Recovery Settings: Verify your email and phone number linked to Instagram.
• Monitor for Alerts: Watch for suspicious login attempts or password reset notifications.
• Report Issues: Use Meta’s official support channels immediately if you suspect compromise.

Key Takeaway

This breach shows that AI-driven customer support systems can become attack surfaces if not properly safeguarded. Meta’s incident is a cautionary tale for all platforms deploying AI in sensitive security workflows.

Innefu Labs Raises $30M in Series B Round to Advance Sovereign AI for National Security

Innefu Labs, India’s leading Artificial Intelligence company in the space of National Security, founded by Tarun Wig and Abhishek Sharma, has raised USD 30M from Panthera Growth Partners, marking one of the most significant milestones in India's National Security technology sector. The company has been at the forefront of creating indigenous platforms and multi-modal fusion systems currently deployed across defense, intelligence, law enforcement, revenue intelligence, and large enterprise clients.

Founders of Imefu Labs

The capital injection, completed through a combination of primary and secondary transactions from Panthera’s second fund, positions Innefu for an IPO and accelerates its push into international markets after Innefu’s initial successful forays in Middle East.

The investment comes as India's sovereign defense initiatives drive sharply increased domestic procurement of critical security technologies. Building on consistent revenues above ₹100 crore, Innefu’s momentum is reflected in a growing pool of multiple ₹100 crore+ contracts spanning defense, intelligence, law enforcement, and revenue intelligence operations.

The proceeds will fund Innefu's next phase of scaling and global expansion, alongside deep-tech R&D anchored in its AI-first, sovereign capabilities. This includes advancing its proprietary Agentic AI platform, establishing a dedicated Physical AI (robotics) wing, and developing sovereign AI infrastructure with secure, domain-specialized language models built for high-trust environments.

Tarun Wig, Co-Founder and CEO of Innefu Labs, stated: "When we started Innefu, our vision was clear: India should never have to depend on external technologies to secure its people, its institutions, or its digital future. Over the last fifteen years, we have transformed that vision into reality, building indigenous AI-powered platforms that protect critical national assets, empower decision-makers, and strengthen the country's security ecosystem.

We now intend to scale our innovations faster, deepen our investments in advanced AI and further enhance our autonomous decision-support systems. We believe the next wave of technological leadership will belong to nations that own their intelligence capabilities, and Innefu is committed to ensuring that India stands at the forefront of that transformation.

What excites us most is that we are still at the beginning of our story. The foundations have been laid, the talent is in place, and the mission has never been clearer. With this new chapter, we are not just building a company, we are helping build the technological backbone of a secure, self-reliant, and AI-powered India for generations to come."

Shilpa Kulkarni, Founder and Managing Partner of Panthera Growth Partners, stated: "Innefu has built native, AI-powered software that solve critical challenges in national defense and enterprise security infrastructure. Our investment decision is based on their proprietary technology, deep domain expertise, and a proven track record in high-stakes, mission-critical environments. We are partnering with Innefu to support their growth ambitions as they prepare for public markets."

Operational Footprint and Market Context

The domestic security technology market involves complex technical requirements historically met by international defense vendors. Innefu's deployments include several national scale AI intelligence fusion centres including India's first National Terrorism Data Fusion Centre, Southeast Asia's largest operational Intelligence Fusion Centre, Revenue Intelligence Fusion Platforms, Predictive Policing Platforms, Indigenous open-source intelligence (OSINT) and Deep Web Fusion Platform for Law Enforcement & Defense Agencies.

Abhishek Sharma, Co-Founder and CTO of Innefu Labs, added: "For over a decade, we've solved mission-critical challenges for defense, intelligence, and investigative agencies. As governments worldwide move toward AI-driven decision-making, our mission is to build trusted, AI-first indigenous platforms that strengthen national security and keep critical data & platforms sovereign. This funding accelerates our next chapter: advancing our Agentic AI capabilities, venturing into Physical AI and robotics, and expanding globally, building the full sovereign AI stack that high-trust environments demand"

Krishan Kant Rathi, Managing Partner at First Bridge Investment Managers, stated: “We are proud to have backed Innefu Labs in 2017, recognizing its vision to build AI-driven platforms for India’s critical sectors. It is immensely satisfying to see Innefu emerge as a key technology partner for national intelligence and investigative agencies. This funding round will further accelerate its growth and global expansion.”

Panthera’s second fund, backed by institutional investors from India, the European Union, and the United States, focuses on growth-stage companies with established product-market fit, deploying an average capital allocation of USD 20 million per company across India and Southeast Asia. The firm’s historical portfolio across its fund vehicles includes allocations in FoxTale, OfBusiness, Zivame, Travelstack Tech, EMotorad, Flipspaces etc.

About Innefu Labs

Founded in 2010 by Tarun Wig and Abhishek Sharma, Innefu is an AI driven company in the field of National and Cyber Security. The company was started with a clear focus to carry out high Tech R&D which fuels innovation and leads to products which can capture the global market and be the cornerstone of the economy of the country. Innefu is a fully indigenous Artificial Intelligence company committed to strengthening National and Cyber Security. With more than 100+ installations across Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and South East Asia, the company is today a de-facto leader in developing and deploying AI for National and Cyber Security.

The company with its own range of products serves a diverse client base including Defense and Intelligence organizations, Law Enforcement Agencies, Financial Intelligence Units, BFSI as well as top Fortune 500 companies. Having worked with some of the most sensitive organizations the company has a deep understanding of handling sensitive and critical installations.

For more information, visit www.innefu.com

Google Adds New History and Personalisation Controls Across Search Services

Google is updating its settings to give users even more control over saved history and personalised recommendations across Google Search services, including Search, Maps, Shopping, Hotels, Flights, Translate and News. You'll see this change in your Google Account in the next few days.

A Major Update to Google Accounts

Google's this significant update to its account settings, giving users more control over how their search history and personalised recommendations are managed. The changes affect multiple services including Search, Maps, Shopping, Hotels, Flights, Translate, and News. These updates will appear in Google Accounts over the coming days.

Transition from Web & App Activity

Previously, history and personalisation were controlled through the Web & App Activity setting. Google is now introducing two distinct options: Search Services History and Personalised Recommendations. This separation allows users to revisit past searches, decide whether their experience should be personalised, and manage saved media such as images, audio, and video from interactions with tools like Lens or Search Live.

Search Services History Explained

Search Services History will store queries and interactions across Google’s search ecosystem. It also introduces a new “Save Media” subsetting, which retains files, images, and audio generated during searches. This feature supports interactive experiences such as revisiting Lens searches or continuing a live conversation about a song. Users can turn off this setting at any time or delete individual pieces of media.

Personalised Recommendations

The new Personalised Recommendations setting determines whether Google tailors search results based on past activity. When enabled, it can reorder results to highlight preferred formats, such as videos or shopping links. Importantly, users can toggle this feature on or off independently of their history settings.

Privacy and Auto-Delete Controls

Google has confirmed that existing auto-delete preferences from Web & App Activity will carry over to Search Services History. Users can continue to set custom retention periods, delete history manually, or disable saving altogether. The company emphasises that saved media and history are protected by robust privacy and security measures, and are also used to improve Google’s AI models and safety systems.

Impact on Users

For most users, the transition will be seamless. If Web & App Activity was previously enabled, the new settings will default to “on.” If it was disabled, the new settings will remain “off.” After the change, Web & App Activity and Search Services History will operate independently, ensuring that adjustments to one do not affect the other.

Managing Preferences

Users can manage these new settings directly from their Google Account under the Search Services History and Personalisation pages. This update reflects Google’s broader strategy to give users more transparency and control over their data while supporting evolving search behaviours, including visual and interactive queries.

Hyundai Motor India Launches 2026 Innovation Challenge for EV, AI and Mobility Startups

• The Hyundai Innovation Challenge 2026 is a 6-month innovation initiative designed to partner with high-potential startups developing cutting-edge solutions across electrification, new mobility, connectivity, ADAS, AI-driven tools and next-generation vehicle technologies
• A unique platform to identify and bring together startups with innovative solutions in the automobile and mobility space
• Through this initiative, startups will get the opportunities to co-create future mobility solutions along with HMIL.
• Startups will also get access to HMIL’s robust ecosystem, expert guidance and PoC grants to transform ideas to reality
• Inviting startups to collaborate with Hyundai’s ecosystem and unlock market exposure along with commercialization opportunities
• Click here for details: Hyundai Innovation Challenge

Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has announced the “Hyundai Innovation Challenge 2026,” a unique platform for high-potential startups. The innovation challenge is a six-month program aimed at partnering with startups developing cutting-edge solutions across electrification, new mobility, connectivity, ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), AI-driven tools and next-generation vehicle technologies. The initiative is supported by Hyundai Motor Group’s global open innovation platform ZER01NE.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Tarun Garg, MD & CEO - HMIL, said, "At HMIL, we strongly believe that the future of mobility will be shaped by collaboration, innovation and bold thinking. The Hyundai Innovation Challenge, curated in partnership with Hyundai Motor Group's ZER01NE team, is designed to bring together some of the brightest minds and most promising startups to co-create solutions that redefine mobility."

“Given India’s dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem and its growing influence on global innovation, the Hyundai Innovation Challenge is poised to bring new tech innovations to the world of mobility. At HMIL, we see startups as partners and co-creators of a smarter, more sustainable future. We are excited about the possibilities we can unlock together,” Mr. Garg added.

Startups can apply to the program until the end of June 2026 through the website managed by LINK Innovation, a global startup consulting and accelerator platform. The platform outlines 15 focus areas for the Hyundai Innovation Challenge 2026 challenge. However, startups are encouraged to submit innovative ideas having potential to deliver impactful solutions even if these ideas are beyond the listed focus areas.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis alongside the application timeline. The initial screening of applications will be evaluated based on various parameters. Shortlisted startups will undergo a detailed evaluation of their technology and product readiness, followed by a final pitch round to HMIL’s top management.

Selected startups will benefit from co-development opportunities, including Proof-of-Concept (PoC) grants, along with access to expert mentorship from HMIL specialists and potential exposure to the company’s customer ecosystem. The program also offers avenues for future investments and long-term strategic partnerships.

JSW MG Motor India Becomes the First OEM to Install 1,000 EV Chargers

• MG EVs Clock 290 Crore Green Kilometres in India; Save 4.17 Lakh Metric Tons of CO₂

On the occasion of World Environment Day, JSW MG Motor India announced the milestone of installing 1,000 community chargers under the MG Charge initiative across 470+ sites in India. With this achievement, the carmaker becomes the first OEM to build EV community charging infrastructure at this scale in the country. The installations span residential societies, condominiums, hospitals, campuses, hotels, and industrial parks.

In addition, the company informed that its EVs have cumulatively covered over 290 crore green kilometres on Indian roads, equivalent to saving 4.17 lakh metric tons of CO₂. The carmaker further noted that it is preparing an aggressive product onslaught for CY2026, with three new NEVs slated for launch, including the introduction of plug-in hybrid technology. JSW MG Motor India views India’s sustainability journey as one that can be driven by multiple technologies.

Aligned with the Government of India’s vision, JSW MG Motor India utilizes more than 78% renewable energy at its Halol manufacturing plant, resulting in savings of over 9,300 metric tons of carbon emissions. The plant meets nearly 95% of its total power requirements through renewable energy sources. Water consumption at the Halol facility has been reduced by 23% through process optimization and the reuse of recycled water. JSW MG Motor India has also adopted Industry 4.0 solutions, with digitization and IoT playing a crucial role in decarbonizing operations and enhancing energy efficiency.

Some key sustainability initiatives include:

• Zero External Discharge Plant that utilizes 100% treated water
• Usage of Cleaner fuel (PNG) in all processes. Green coverage with more than 11000 trees planted
• Certified with Zero Waste to Landfill – Gold Maturity
• Equipped with Bio Compost Machine for Canteen, Garden Waste Biogas Plant for Bio waste
• Miyawaki Forest – 5700 Plants. 21 Recharge Wells

Honeywell Launches Enhanced Industrial Software to Deliver Real-Time Visibility Into Worksite Safety

Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) today announced the launch of enhanced capabilities for its Safety Suite 2.0 software platform, providing broader visibility into portable gas detection device fleets for safety leaders in refineries, chemical plants, utilities and first responder operations. By adding more historical data, enhanced dashboards and forecasting capabilities, the unified software ecosystem now enables operators to better protect workers in real time, track and forecast compliance metrics and effectively manage device inventory.

“Safety Suite empowers leaders to detect potential hazards early, prioritize corrective actions and continuously improve safety performance to protect workers on the job,” said Armando Pazos, president, Honeywell Industrial Measurement and Control. “When operations teams can connect insights from historical trends and real-time metrics, organizations can shift from reactive responses to a proactive, safety-first approach. This helps to reduce risk, enable faster, more informed decision-making and strengthen a culture where worker safety is embedded in every process, asset and outcome.”

Connected safety capabilities are not only essential to safeguard people but also to catch incidents early to help avoid costly damage to infrastructure. For instance, responding to gas leaks can cost fire departments more than $500 million in a single year.

With Safety Suite 2.0, safety managers can see past trends to help identify risk patterns and review historical alarm events from a centralized location, supporting post-incident investigations and informing safety training. The software platform helps support coverage for all workers and provides efficiencies and connected insights through other enhanced capabilities, including:Customizable dashboards consolidate exposure data, compliance status and fleet health into clear visual summaries, making outcome measurement and audits quicker and easier.
Real-time alerts pushed to employees notify them of critical events or upcoming needs to bump test devices, keeping operations running smoothly and helping avoid costly downtime.
Real-time readings displayed from workers’ gas detectors provide quick visibility into safety conditions at all facilities or locations.
Guided and automated workflows for onboarding, assigning, calibrating and returning devices back into inventory save time and improve tracking of portable technologies when assigned to a team, an individual or several people across different shifts.

For more information on Honeywell’s ecosystem of gas detection solutions and innovative safety technologies, visit our website.www.psehealthyenergy.org/gas-leaks-cost-u-s-fire-departments-nearly-half-a-billion-dollars-each-year/