Thursday, Britain's domestic intelligence service, MI5, is set to open an official Instagram account, in the latest step by the country's spy agencies to come out of the shadows.

MI5, formally known as The Security Service, will use the Instagram handle @mi5official, and use the account to bust popular myths and rumors, while revealing never-before-seen archive material, according to the UK's Press Association (PA).

Additionally, MI5 plans to host Q&As online with serving intelligence officers and promote career opportunities on Instagram, which boasts more than one billion users globally, PA said.

Once famous for approaching potential new recuits in discreet, shadowy encounters, MI5 began publicly advertising vacant positions in recent years.

Exhibits from its museum, located in the basement of London headquarters by the River Thames near Westminster, will also be shared on Instagram.

The decision came months after MI5's new director general, Ken McCallum, said he wanted the traditionally highly secretive agency to "open up and reach out in new ways".

"Much of what we do needs to remain invisible, but what we are doesn't have to be," he said, adding that "opening up is key to our future success."