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Instagram, Threads, Meta, and WhatsApp, virtually, all of Meta's main services suffered outage on Wednesday afternoon. While none of the platforms appeared to return 500 errors, many stopped updating and refused to accept posts.

Down Detector shows a massive increase in outage reports for all the services starting at about noon ET. Since then, they've slowly and almost completely, recovered. Other unrelated sites and services, according to Down Detector, also appeared to be struggling at the same time, including Amazon's AWS service which backs many of the popular sites and services throughout the Internet, and even Reddit.

On Threads, we couldn't upload images or refresh our feeds. On Instagram, notifications were empty.

We've contacted Meta for comment and will update this live blog with its response.

But the good news is that most of Meta's platforms now appear operational. Here's how it all went down (and came back up).

(Image credit: Future) AWS have a role here

As we mentioned, AWS, at least according to Down Detector, was also struggling in the early afternoon. Since we've heard whispers of other services outside the Meta's orbit also struggling, this might be a bigger issue than one company's servers. AWS serves countless websites and online services.

(Image credit: Future) How it started

We first noticed the outage on Threads where the platform began rejecting image uploads. Soon, the feeds started disappearing.

Subsequent checks of Instagram and Facebook showed similar instabilities.

In case you didn't know, Threads is owned by Instagram, which is also owned by Meta. The upstart social media platform has grown quickly over the last 16 months and has been remarkably stable. In recent months, its biggest challenge has come not from infrastructure but from Bluesky, which while slightly older than Threads recently rose to prominence during a mass exodus from X (formerly Twitter). For what it's worth, Bluesky and X appear unaffected by any larger Internet issues.

(Image credit: Future) A recovery

By 3:58 PM ET, most of Meta's major services appeared to be recovering. Down Detector showed a significant downturn in outage reports

Instagram Notifications reappeared and Threads was, for the most part, accepting image uploads.

(Image credit: Future) The uncertainty of it all

This is the kind of platform outage that leaves you guessing. Systems work, but inconsistently. I was posting – I thought – but was pretty sure no one was seeing it. I finally posted a poll on Threads to see if the system was still out or if social engagement would continue.

With exactly two votes (at this writing) it's clear that not everything is working as it should.

Post by @lanceulanoff View on Threads A rough ride

WhatsApp may have had the roughest ride with two massive outage report spikes, as per Down Detector. It being a private messaging app, it's hard to know what people were experiencing or what they were saying (and not able to say) about the outage.

Based on the current chart WhatsApp also appears to be recovering.

(Image credit: Future) The dust settles

One of the more interesting aspects of an outage like this, especially when it touches multiple services is how it can have a knock-on effect for seemingly unrelated platforms. When people can't get onto their favorite social media and encrypted communication platforms, they sometimes look for other places to blame.

Services like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Spectrum also got their share of outage reports in the same timeframe but it's unlikely they were either responsible or even impacted. It's just that when you can't reach Facebook, you start to wonder if your cellular or internet service is down. It's usually not.

(Image credit: Future)

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• The FBI has warned Americans to use encrypted messaging apps
• Advice comes in the wake of a cyberattack targeting US telecoms
• Encrypted messages are only as secure as the device receiving them

Tl;DR What should you use?

(Image credit: Shutterstock / AdemAY)

WhatsApp, Signal and Facebook Messenger all offer end-to-end encryption. If you're on iOS and chatting to people on Apple devices, Messages and FaceTime are safe, but aren't encrypted when talking to non-Apple devices. Regular SMS messages aren't encrypted, and RCS encryption is dependent on who you're talking to.

In the wake of a massive cyberattack against US telecoms operators, the FBI has urged Americans to use encrypted messaging apps to keep their mobile communications secure. But why does that matter?

The warning comes after one of the largest intelligence breaches in US history. Salt Typhoon, a group linked to China, used a new backdoor malware to hack network operators including AT&T and Verizon, spying on the activity of their customers.

Operational from as early as 2022, Salt Typhoon targets government agencies, political figures and key industries in the US. What’s concerning about this latest attack is its scale and severity.

It targeted flaws in cybersecurity products, such as firewalls and VPNs, as well as backdoors used by law enforcement agencies to monitor foreign targets and enforce telephone wiretaps. According to the FBI, once the hackers had compromised these networks, they were able to deploy further malware and gather information, including the contents of phone calls and text messages.

It’s because of this that the FBI has recommended that Americans switch to the best encrypted apps to protect their communications. But what does that actually mean and will encrypted messaging really keep you safe from cybercriminals? Here’s what the experts suggest.

What do the experts say?

(Image credit: Shutterstock / AdemAY)

In a briefing to reporters, Jeff Greene, executive assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), compelled US citizens to use encryption.

“Encryption is your friend, whether it’s on text messaging or if you have the capacity to use encrypted voice communication,” said Greene. “Even if the adversary is able to intercept the data, if it is encrypted, it will make it impossible.”

The advice was welcomed by privacy experts, who have long advocated for wider use of encrypted communication systems.

Greg Nojeim, a Senior Counsel and Director of the Security and Surveillance Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology, commented: “If anti-encryption advocates had their way, the United States would now be defenseless to this type of mass snooping from a foreign power.”

What the FBI advice doesn’t address is that the Salt Typhoon hack exploited backdoors put in place to allow law enforcement agencies to obtain communication data from suspected criminals.

Cybersecurity experts have long warned that any backdoor access, even if put in place with good intentions, is at risk of being used for nefarious purposes.

Writing in The Conversation, Richard Forno, Assistant Director at the UMBC Center for Cybersecurity, said: “It’s somewhat ironic that one of the countermeasures recommended by the government to guard against Salt Typhoon spying is to use strongly encrypted services for phone calls and text messages – encryption capabilities that it has spent decades trying to undermine so that only “the good guys” can use it.”

What should you do?

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Tero Vesalainen)

According to Forno: “If you want to increase your security and privacy a bit, consider using end-to-end encrypted messaging services like Signal, FaceTime or Messages.”

End-to-end encryption adds an important layer of security to your digital conversations. In simple terms, it scrambles your messaging data into a form that’s unreadable if accessed by a third-party. The contents can only be unscrambled with the key – and only the sender and receiver have that key.

There’s a good chance you’re already using a messaging service which features end-to-end encryption. Apps such WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram are all end-to-end encrypted, as are Google Messages and Apple iMessage.

These options are much more secure than SMS and RCS: because these are unencrypted messaging protocols, they can be easily read if intercepted by cybercriminals.

While end-to-end encryption is important, it isn’t the quite the total solution that the FBI seems to suggest. Because the key to your encrypted messages is held on your device, anyone who can access that device will be able to decrypt and read your messages.

That’s why it’s also important to follow a few fundamental steps to secure your smartphone and other devices. These include keeping your devices updated with the latest software versions. You should also use a strong password as another line of defence against data breaches. To help you, you can use one of the best password generators.

“Make sure you’re not using default or easily guessed passwords on your devices,” advises Forno. “And consider using two-factor authentication to further strengthen the security of any critical internet accounts.”

Two-factor authentication means that anyone trying to access your account will have to fulfil a second layer of security, such as providing a code sent by email.

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• You can now buy new vehicles and trade-in old ones via Amazon Autos
• It's initially available in 48 cities across the US
• More automotive brands are set to join the platform next year

The world’s leading online shopping marketplace announced that it was teaming up with Hyundai to start selling its vehicles at the tail end of last year, with Amazon users able to browse models and register interest, but not physically purchase them.

Now, Amazon has announced that Amazon Autos (Beta) is now open for business in 48 US cities. The service allows buyers to browse vehicles at leisure, pay with a customized finance option (or pay cash, if you’re a baller), or select optional protection products. You can either head to a local dealership for collection or arrange to have the shiny new car delivered.

The general idea is to beat Tesla at its own Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) game by offering a convenient sales channel that circumvents the need to sit in a stuffy dealership and haggle with a salesperson over the sometimes inflated price.

According to numerous Cox Automotive studies, which ask customers about their car-buying experience, overall satisfaction with the traditional dealer model is on the wane in the USA. However, Fan Jin, global head of Amazon Autos, says the new online platform is making shopping for a new car more transparent, convenient, and customer-friendly.

Arguably merging a number of online car-buying tools into a single online destination, Amazon Autos allows customers to get an “instant valuation” on their existing used vehicle, with the ability to trade it in toward the price of the new car.

Although the final valuation of said used vehicle will be decided by an independent third-party.

Currently, Amazon Autos only lists select Hyundai vehicles, chiefly the Ioniq 5, although the brand says it plans to roll out new models and feature additional automotive brands next year, while potentially expanding its business model to territories outside the US.

Analysis: Just another shop window

(Image credit: Hyundai)

Steven Suh, general sales manager of South Bay Hyundai, said in a statement that Amazon Autos "allows us to showcase our vehicles to millions of daily shoppers," revealing that customers "come in excited to pick up their new car".

So however novel it may seem, Amazon Autos is just another online shop window that will eventually see a customer set foot in a local dealership, either to collect their vehicle or when they eventually have to return for servicing, repairs and routine maintenance.

Sure, it avoids the awkward haggling with a salesperson in the first instance, but it still doesn’t completely eschew a ‘legacy’ dealership model.

Secondly, Amazon doesn’t make it clear how a test drive arrangement would work, with interested parties likely contacting a local dealer through the online marketplace to arrange some time with the vehicle. Free returns and Prime delivery don’t really work with something as large and expensive as a car.

Alas, Tesla has been successful with its mobile technician offering and the automation of its servicing schedules and routine maintenance. Remote diagnostics allow its mechanics to work out issues from anywhere in the world and if a vehicle absolutely has to visit a shop, Tesla will recommend and book in via one its trusted local repairers.

Because electric vehicles require less frequent servicing due to a reduction in mechanical parts, an increasing number of manufacturers are looking for more convenient ways for customers to interact with their products.

Tesla has proven that you don't necessarily need a network of dealers to be successful, while Hyundai is clearly testing the waters to see if it too can future-proof its brand with an increasingly digital offering.

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The outage is also affecting Threads and Facebook Messenger.