There are several signs that your Facebook has been hacked, that users should be aware of and familiarise themselves with.
These include seeing messages in their sent box that they don’t remember sending, finding that their account is locked and that their password doesn’t work, and seeing posts that they didn’t share.
If any of these ring familiar for you, then there is a chance that you’ve been hacked and need to follow protocol to resecure your account and remove access to your account for hackers.
But while these are all responses and actions to take after an incident, when it comes to protecting your account it’s also important to recognise how Facebook hackers operate and how your account can fall victim to a hacker.
The Most Common Hacker Styles
Being hacked on Facebook means that someone else gains access to your account and to all the information contained in your account. This doesn’t just pose a risk to you but also to your Facebook friends and connections – with hackers often pretending to be the victim in order to extort money and more information from other users.
The most common types of Facebook hack include:
- A data breach whereby personal information is leaked online
- Credential stuffing, using one known password to access your other profiles
- Keylogging tools which mimic and track your movement across a keyboard
Let’s take a closer look at how these hacks work.
Data Breach
A data breach or data leak is when a database of personal information gets released by accident, suddenly making that information accessible to those outside an organisation.
The extent of the damage depends largely on what kind of data has been leaked.
Facebook has suffered from several data leaks and breaches over the years, with users encouraged to refresh and update their security information after each in order to protect themselves and their accounts.
Credential Stuffing
If a data breach or hacking attempt unlocks your password on one platform, credential stuffing will see the hacker take that information and apply it to other sites and social profiles.
The idea behind this is that many of us use the same passwords on different sites and platforms – with hackers trying the password they do have on other sites.
Keylogging
This is a tool which can be fitted invisibly to a device, that tracks the keystrokes and movement of a user across a keyboard. This can give the hacker information about the keys used to enter a password, thereby allowing them to gain access to an account.
How to Protect Yourself From Hackers
By far the most important thing to do to protect yourself from Facebook hackers is to use a unique password on every social media platform and activate two-step verification to protect your account.
If you are worried that you have been hacked or you notice any of the signs outlined earlier in this article, change all of your passwords and log in information as soon as possible, disconnect and force a log out on any devices that aren’t in your possession, and warn friends and family not to respond to any messages sent during the hack.
We hope this helps!
