Snapchat instituted a new visual verification system to stop the automated collection of usernames and spam. Computer programmer Steven Hickson says it took less than an hour to hack the security measure and write code capable of automatically entering the verification.

A growing number of users have complained about the amount of Snapchat spam, which has been on the uptick recently. Snapchat says that it is the byproduct of the service’s increasing popularity.

In response to a major exploit that saw the collection and release of 4.6 million usernames, along with their corresponding phone numbers, Snapchat instituted a visual verification service to help curb the automatic collection of phone numbers.

Via ibtimes