With over 2.8 billion monthly active users, Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. Unfortunately, this also makes it a major target for hackers and scammers looking to steal personal information or spread malware. Knowing the signs that your Facebook account has been compromised and taking swift action to secure it again is crucial to protecting your privacy and data. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover the most common indications that your account may be hacked along with steps to take if you suspect unauthorized access.
Unexpected changes to profile information or settings
One of the first signs your account may be hacked is noticing unexpected changes to your profile information or account settings that you don’t remember making. For example:
- Your profile photo, cover photo, or bio text has been altered.
- You are suddenly listed as being in a relationship, married, or working for a company you don’t recognize.
- Your primary email or password has been changed without your doing so.
- You are now following pages or people that you did not intentionally follow.
- Your ad preferences like location, demographics, interests, or contacts uploaded have been modified.
- You are tagged in posts or places you haven’t visited.
Pay attention if you see any unusual updates like these that you didn’t authorize and take note of what was changed. This is a telltale sign your account may be hacked.
Suspicious or spam posts made through your account
If strangers start seeing posts, comments, or messages from your account that you didn’t write yourself, that’s a red flag. Hackers who gain access to accounts will sometimes use them to spread malicious links or spam.
Watch for posts on your timeline promoting suspicious money-making opportunities, weight loss products, or links to unfamiliar websites. If friends or followers start contacting you confused about these kinds of posts they’re seeing from your account, it likely means it has been taken over.
Logins from unknown locations or devices
Facebook logs the locations and devices you use to access your account. You can check your recent login activity under Settings > Security and Login.
Look for logins from geographical locations you haven’t been to or devices you don’t recognize. Logins from countries far away from your actual location can be a sign of an account breach.
Emails from Facebook about changes you didn’t make
When important changes are made to your Facebook account, like altering your password, email address, or turning on two-factor authentication, Facebook will send you an email notification.
If you receive these emails unexpectedly about changes you didn’t authorize, it’s likely that someone has improperly accessed your account and made adjustments without your consent.
Your friends see messages you didn’t send
Has a Facebook friend ever reached out confused about a strange message you supposedly sent? This can occur if a hacker is able to access and use your account to send messages under your name.
If friends or followers notify you of odd messages or posts showing up from your account, it’s a strong signal that your account security has been compromised in some way.
Steps to take if you think your account is hacked
If any of the above scenarios apply and you suspect your Facebook account has been compromised, take the following steps right away:
1. Change your password
First and foremost, open Facebook and reset your account password. Make sure to use a new, strong password that isn’t used on any other sites. Enabling two-factor authentication is also a good idea for extra security.
2. Revoke account access
Check your account settings for any unfamiliar sessions or devices logged in that could be related to the hacker. Revoke access for anything suspicious you don’t recognize.
You can also fully log out of all active sessions which will force any potential hacker to have to log back in (and they won’t know your new password).
3. Scan devices for malware
If your account was hacked, it’s possible your devices have been infected with spyware, viruses, or other malware that’s stealing your data. Download a reputable antivirus app and run a full system scan checking for security threats. Remove anything harmful that gets flagged.
4. Check other accounts and review privacy settings
Once a hacker gains access to one account, they may try to breach others using the same credentials. Be sure to update passwords and security for your email, online banking, or any other sensitive accounts.
Also review your Facebook privacy settings and limit anything that was made public by the hacker. Restrict visibility of your posts, profile info, and friends list to give you more control.
5. Report the issue to Facebook
The best way to notify Facebook about the potential compromise of your account is to use the Report a Problem link located at the bottom of most pages. Here you can file a detailed report about your account being hacked.
Providing as many specifics as possible about the hack helps Facebook’s security team investigate and restore your account.
6. Contact friends and issue warnings
Consider reaching out to friends, family, and followers who may have been exposed to spam or suspicious messages from your hacked account. Let them know the situation is being handled but they should be wary of any unusual links or content sent during the period your account was compromised.
Steps to further strengthen your Facebook account security
Once you’ve regained access to your account, additional measures you can take to lock it down and prevent future hacks include:
| Enable two-factor authentication | Adds a second step of verification via mobile app code or hardware key when logging in from new browsers or devices. |
| Use strong and unique passwords | Create a unique password just for Facebook that uses a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols and change it frequently. |
| Be cautious of third-party apps | Don’t authorize unnecessary apps or extensions that ask for broad account permissions and access. |
| Limit visibility of posts | Use tighter privacy settings on your posts, profile, and friends list to avoid exposing data to hackers. |
| Check login notifications | Pay attention to emails and texts Facebook sends when your account has important activity and watch for unknown logins. |
Implementing measures like these makes it much harder for hackers to access your account in the future.
Conclusion
Facebook account hacks are relatively common and put users at risk of identity theft, compromised data, and misuse of their profiles. Being vigilant for any signs of unauthorized changes or access is key to identifying if your account is breached quickly. Taking swift action to report issues to Facebook, change passwords, revoke app permissions, and secure your account again is essential to protecting yourself after a hack occurs. Implementing ongoing safeguards like two-factor authentication and strong unique passwords adds critical layers of security for your account well into the future. With proper awareness and preventative steps, you can better guard against potential Facebook account hacks.
References
- Facebook Help Center – What should I do if someone has accessed or is using my account without my knowledge or permission?
- Facebook Help Center – How do I increase my account security?
- Federal Trade Commission – How to Know if Your Facebook Account Has Been Hacked
- Norton – 5 Signs Your Facebook Account Has Been Hacked