Having your Facebook account hacked can be a stressful and frustrating experience. Your personal information, photos, conversations, and connections are all stored on Facebook, so a hacked account can feel like a real violation of privacy. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to try to regain control of your account and delete it if necessary.
How do I know if my Facebook account has been hacked?
There are several signs that may indicate your Facebook account has been compromised:
- You cannot log in to your account due to changed password or contact information.
- Strange posts or messages have been shared from your account without your knowledge.
- Friends report seeing posts or messages you did not send.
- Emails from Facebook about security changes you did not make.
- Unfamiliar photos or friends added to your account.
If you notice any of these issues, your account may be hacked. Act quickly to secure it.
Can I delete a hacked Facebook account?
Yes, it is possible to delete a hacked Facebook account. However, you may want to try recovering your account before deleting it.
Here are the steps to delete a hacked Facebook account:
- Go to Facebook’s account deletion page and click “Delete Account.”
- Enter your password when prompted.
- Click “Continue to Account Deletion” and follow the instructions to complete the process.
Once you delete the account, it cannot be recovered. Facebook will remove all your information, photos, posts, conversations, and connections from its servers. People on Facebook will no longer be able to search for or view any information associated with your account.
Should I try to recover my hacked Facebook account before deleting it?
In many cases, it makes sense to try recovering your account before deleting it. That way you can regain access to your information instead of losing it all.
Here are some reasons you may want to recover a hacked account:
- Preserve your photos, posts, conversations, connections
- Maintain access to groups and pages you manage
- Avoid losing contact with friends and family on the platform
- Keep using features like Marketplace and Memories you enjoyed
- Maintain your digital identity on an established profile
Recovering the account also prevents the hacker from continuing to access it.
How can I recover my hacked Facebook account?
If you want to regain access to your hacked Facebook account instead of deleting it, here are the steps to take:
- Report the hacking via Facebook’s hacked account form. Provide details to explain the hack.
- Contact friends and ask them to report your account as hacked to Facebook.
- If you can log in, change your password and review settings for anything suspicious.
- Remove any unknown friends or followers.
- Use Facebook’s security checkpoint to confirm your identity.
- Enable two-factor authentication for increased security.
With persistence and help from both Facebook and your friends, there is a good chance you can recover control of your account.
When is it better to just delete my hacked Facebook account?
In some cases, it may be better to delete your hacked Facebook account instead of trying to recover it.
Situations where you may want to just delete the hacked account include:
- The hacker changed your contact info and you cannot reset your password
- The hacker enabled two-factor authentication and you cannot access the codes
- Your account was hacked a long time ago and contains lots of spam
- You do not have much personal information of value still on the account
- The hacker harassed many of your contacts before you realized
If regaining access and undoing the hacker’s actions will be extremely difficult or time consuming, deleting the account may be wiser.
What should I do to protect my new Facebook account?
After deleting your hacked Facebook account, you may choose to create a new account. Take measures to keep your new account secure:
- Use a strong, unique password you don’t use on other sites
- Add two-factor authentication via text, authenticator app, or security key
- Don’t accept friend requests from strangers
- Be cautious clicking links or opening attachments
- Use up-to-date antivirus and malware protection
- Don’t re-add contacts who you think may have been involved in hacking the old account
Enabling login alerts and monitoring your security settings can also help keep your new profile safe.
Can I regain my old Facebook profile name after deleting my account?
When you create a new Facebook account after deleting your hacked one, you will not automatically reclaim your old profile name. That name now belongs to a deactivated account per Facebook’s policies.
However, you may be able to get your old profile name back in a few ways:
- If the old account used your authentic name, create a new account with the same name to get the matching profile name
- Let Facebook know you are the legitimate owner of the deactivated profile name and request they assign it to your new account
- Add details like your phone number or email that were associated with the deleted account and request the matching profile name
There is no guarantee you will get the same profile name, but providing Facebook with information verifying your identity gives you the best chance.
Should I be concerned about identity theft if my Facebook account was hacked?
Having your Facebook account hacked can raise concerns about identity theft. A hacker may be able to access personal information like your birthdate, address, phone number, and even financial information if it was connected to your Facebook account.
Here are some precautions to take if identity theft is a worry:
- Carefully monitor your financial accounts and watch for any suspicious activity.
- Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze if you see signs of identity theft.
- Run credit reports to identify any accounts opened without your authorization.
- Change passwords on any other online accounts that used the same credentials.
- Beware of potential phishing attempts using stolen personal details.
Remaining vigilant about protecting your identity if your account was compromised reduces risks. Notify Facebook, financial institutions, and credit bureaus about the hacking as well.
What legal action can I take if someone hacks my Facebook account?
If someone gains unauthorized access to your Facebook account, you may have legal options including:
- Reporting the hacking to the police to potentially pursue criminal charges for computer fraud.
- Contacting the FBI Cyber Crime division if the hacker committed identity theft or distributed private photos/information.
- Consulting an attorney about a civil lawsuit against the hacker for invasion of privacy or emotional distress.
- Suing Facebook if you believe their negligence contributed to the account breach.
Hacking a Facebook account and using the personal information for criminal purposes can result in fines, probation, or even jail time. Consult professionals to understand your options.
What steps can I take if Facebook is unwilling to delete my hacked account?
In most cases, Facebook will cooperate with requests from legitimate account owners to delete hacked profiles. However, if you run into difficulty getting Facebook to remove your compromised account, here are some steps to take:
- Keep trying to submit requests via Facebook’s account deletion form, providing as much verification as possible.
- Escalate the issue by contacting Facebook support and asking for a supervisor.
- Reach out on Twitter or Facebook citing your case details and asking for help.
- Submit a complaint with the Better Business Bureau regarding the unresolved issue.
- Consult an attorney about sending Facebook a formal notice letter demanding account deletion.
Threatening legal action is often effective at getting a platform’s attention if regular channels fail. Be persistent until Facebook deletes the account.
Conclusion
Having your Facebook profile hacked can be upsetting and create uncertainty about how to move forward. With some effort, it may be possible to recover a compromised account, but deleting it is sometimes the wiser option. Focus on protecting your identity, enhancing security for new profiles, and leveraging Facebook or legal resources if you need additional help regaining control. Stay vigilant, and be proactive about safeguarding your new accounts. With caution, you can continue safely using Facebook even after going through the headache of dealing with a hacked profile.