Having your Facebook account hacked can be a very unsettling experience. Your personal information, photos, conversations, and more are all stored on Facebook, so someone gaining unauthorized access to your account can feel like a huge invasion of privacy.
If you discover that someone has gained access to your Facebook account without your permission, you may be wondering what actions you can take. One option is to report the hacking activity to Facebook so they can investigate and take appropriate action against the hacker.
What constitutes hacking on Facebook?
Facebook considers the following activities to be forms of hacking or unauthorized access:
- Guessing or figuring out another user’s login credentials and using them to access their account
- Using tools or software to gain access to an account
- Accessing and using someone’s account without their knowledge or permission
So if someone was able to log into your Facebook account without your authorization by any of these methods, Facebook does consider this hacking and a violation of their terms.
How to report hacking of your Facebook account
If you believe your account has been compromised, here are the steps to report it to Facebook:
- Log into your account, if you are able to. If you can’t log in, you may need to go through the account recovery process.
- Go to the Help Center and search for “hacked accounts.”
- Follow the steps to report your account has been hacked. This will prompt you to change your password and review recent login locations.
- Carefully review any account activity from suspicious locations and report any posts or messages you know you did not create.
- Fill out the form to provide details about how you believe your account was hacked.
Facebook may ask for additional information as they investigate. Be sure to respond to any follow up messages from their security team.
What happens after submitting a hacking report?
Once you complete the form reporting unauthorized access, here’s what generally happens next:
- Facebook’s security team will investigate to validate your claim of hacking.
- Any suspicious activity on your account will be reverted.
- Your password and security settings will be reset.
- Facebook systems monitor for signs of the hacker attempting to access the account again.
- If evidence points to a specific person hacking your account, Facebook may take action against their account such as suspension.
So in summary, Facebook has a process to quickly lock down and restore security to your compromised account. And they have systems in place to monitor and take action against hacking threats.
How long does it take for a hacking claim to be resolved?
The timing will vary depending on the complexity of the specific case, but here is a general timeline to expect:
| Stage | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Review of initial claim | 24-48 hours |
| Account lockdown and password reset | Immediately after claim validation |
| Reversal of unauthorized changes | 1-3 days |
| Ongoing hacking monitoring | 1-2 weeks |
So you can expect that within about 48 hours, your account will be secure again. But it may take up to a couple weeks for the full investigation process to play out.
What information does Facebook need for hacking claims?
To properly investigate potential hacking, Facebook will need key details from you including:
- A full description of how you believe your account was compromised
- Any dates, times, locations related to unauthorized access
- Any suspicious emails, messages, posts, or activities you noticed
- Whether you re-used the same password on other sites
- If you have any suspicion about who may have accessed your account
Providing as many specifics as possible will help Facebook confirm your report and take appropriate action.
Can I report a hacking attempt that failed?
Yes, Facebook does want to be made aware of potential hacking attempts and vulnerabilities, even if the hacker did not succeed in gaining access. To report a failed hacking attempt:
- Go to Facebook’s Whitehat reporting page for security issues
- Choose the option that best fits your situation (Phishing Page, Fake Facebook Page, etc.)
- Supply information on when/how the attempt occurred
- Include as many details as possible like screenshots and relevant links
This reporting can help Facebook identify vulnerabilities and improve security for all users.
What happens if Facebook can’t confirm the hacking?
In some cases, Facebook may not be able to find sufficient evidence that your account was compromised. Some possible reasons for this include:
- Activity you reported was actually done by you or someone with account access
- Suspicious activity looks legitimate upon deeper investigation
- Hacker covered their tracks well and didn’t leave clear audit trails
If Facebook closes your claim for lack of proof, some next steps are:
- Review account login records yourself for any unknown access locations
- Change your password just in case, and enable 2-factor authentication
- Watch closely for any future suspicious activity and document it
- Consider bringing evidence to your local law enforcement
Steps to take if Facebook finds no proof of hacking
| Action | Details |
|---|---|
| Review login records | Facebook shows recent logins under Security Settings. Note any unfamiliar locations. |
| Change password | Reset to a strong, unique password to be safe. |
| Enable 2FA | Adds second layer of verification via SMS texts or authenticator apps. |
| Watch account closely | If hacked before, could happen again. Document any suspicious activity. |
| Involve law enforcement | If hacking evidence is found later, work with local police. |
Other steps to secure your Facebook account
In addition to reporting hacking, you can take these proactive measures to help protect your Facebook account:
- Unique password – Don’t reuse passwords across different sites.
- Two-factor authentication – Add a second layer of verification for logins.
- Login approvals – Require a code to login from unrecognized devices.
- Login alerts – Facebook emails you when your account logs in from a new location.
- Private browsing – Avoid accessing Facebook from public, shared devices.
- Limit info sharing – Adjust privacy settings to share less publicly.
Taking these steps helps make your account much more secure from potential hackers.
Top security measures to protect Facebook account
| Security Measure | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Unique password | Prevents access via stolen/guessed passwords |
| Two-factor authentication | Adds verification step beyond just password |
| Login approvals | Blocks logins from unrecognized devices |
| Login alerts | Notifies you of logins from new locations |
Can I get in legal trouble for hacking a Facebook account?
Yes, hacking into someone’s Facebook account is illegal. It violates both Facebook’s terms of service and computer hacking laws that can bring criminal penalties. Potential civil lawsuits around hacking could also occur.
Illegal hacking activities could lead to:
- Up to 5 years in prison under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
- Facebook lawsuit for violating terms of service
- Individual lawsuit from the victim for damages
- Probation, fines, and a criminal record
Facebook cooperates fully with law enforcement investigations into hacking. If they can trace unauthorized account access back to an individual, they will notify authorities.
Bottom line – hacking Facebook accounts is clearly unethical, but it’s also illegal and can lead to serious criminal consequences beyond just getting your account suspended.
Potential penalties for Facebook hacking
| Type | Potential Penalties |
|---|---|
| Criminal | Up to 5 years prison, fines, probation, criminal record |
| Civil | Facebook lawsuit for violating terms, individual lawsuits |
| Account suspension, legal cooperation with authorities |
Conclusion
Having your Facebook account hacked can be a stressful and invasive experience. But Facebook does provide ways to report unauthorized access and have your account restored.
Be sure to provide Facebook with as many details as possible when submitting your claim. And continue to watch closely for any further suspicious activity.
Facebook also recommends taking proactive security measures like strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and limiting sharing. And remember that hacking Facebook accounts can lead to serious criminal penalties.
So be vigilant in detecting potential hacking and act quickly using Facebook’s reporting process. This can help get your account secured and revert any unauthorized changes.