In today’s digital world, messengers like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram have become a crucial part of our daily communication. However, the convenience of messengers comes with the risk of hacking and privacy violations. Knowing the signs of a hacked messenger can help you take prompt actions to secure your account.
Strange messages sent from your account
One of the most obvious signs of a hacked messenger account is strange messages being sent from your account without your knowledge. For instance, you may notice messages with unusual content or sent to people you don’t know at odd hours. This happens when a hacker gains access to your account and starts using it to send spam or malicious messages to your contacts. If your friends or family alert you about such messages from your account, it’s a clear red flag.
Unknown contacts added to your contact list
Messengers allow adding contacts through syncing phone contacts, QR code scanning as well as manual addition. If you notice unknown contacts in your messenger contact list that you didn’t add yourself, it likely means your account has been compromised. Hackers add other compromised accounts or their own contact details to your list to make it easier to access your account in the future or spread malware to your contacts.
Profile details are changed
Hackers after gaining access to your messenger account often change profile details like profile name, photo, status, etc. to conceal their tracks. For instance, your account profile name changing overnight from your real name to a random username can be a warning sign. Status updates you didn’t post yourself appearing on your profile are also suspicious.
You are logged out unexpectedly
Getting involuntarily logged out from your messenger account can be a strong indicator of hacking. This can happen when a hacker force logs you out to access your account from a new device. Many messengers logout other active sessions when an account is accessed from a new location as a security measure. So if you find yourself frequently forced logged out, someone else could be trying to login and use your account.
Loss of account access
Suddenly not being able to access your messenger account is one of the clearest signs of hacking. Despite using the correct password, if your account gets locked or disabled, or password reset emails don’t reach your inbox, it likely means the hacker has changed credentials to block your access. Hackers often enable two-factor authentication after changing account password to take full control. Being unable to recover your compromised account can be incredibly concerning.
Unusual activity in account settings
Hackers tend to tweak account settings to make their access easier in the future. This includes enabling discovery by phone number, adding account recovery email, disabling two-factor authentication, allowing sessions from new devices, etc. If you notice unusual activity under your account’s security settings that wasn’t done by you, your account may be hacked.
Notifications about unrecognized devices
Many messengers alert you if your account is accessed from new or unrecognized devices. So if you get notifications warning you about logins from devices you don’t use yourself, it likely means someone else has your login details. Hackers usually try to access your account from various devices to steal data, spy on your chats and spread malware to your contacts.
Increased data usage
A messenger account being hacked can result in increased mobile data usage as hackers may be downloading your media or transferring your data. If you notice your data consumption has suddenly spiked without any change in your own usage, it could be because an unauthorized person is abusing your account. Monitoring mobile data usage trends can thus reveal any suspicious activity.
Your contacts receive spam messages
A common goal of hacking messenger accounts is to use them to spread spam or malware to the contact list. If people in your contact list start receiving shady messages or links from your account, it means your account has likely been compromised and is being misused. Your contacts reporting such messages can alert you to take corrective actions.
Presence of spyware or keyloggers on your device
Sometimes hackers can gain access to your messenger account not by hacking the service itself but by infecting your device with spyware or keyloggers. If your device shows signs of malware like random popups, crashing apps, or overheating, your messenger accounts can also be at risk. Scan your device with a security app to check for potential spyware or monitoring software.
Using weak or compromised passwords
Using simple passwords like 123456 or the same passwords across multiple accounts makes you highly vulnerable to hacking. If any of the services where you used such passwords is breached, hackers can easily access your messenger accounts. Never reuse passwords and use strong unique passwords for important accounts.
fell for phishing scams
Phishing scams aimed at stealing messenger account credentials are quite common. If you recently entered your account details after receiving shady links or emails asking you to verify your account, your credentials are likely compromised. Avoid clicking unverified links and always login via official sources only.
Publicly accessible login QR codes
Messengers like WhatsApp have QR codes that can be scanned to directly login to your account. If someone gets access to your QR code, they can login to your account from a new device. So never publicly share photos or screenshots containing your messenger QR codes.
Unencrypted internet connections
Using unprotected WiFi networks or VPNs can allow hackers to intercept your messenger traffic and steal your login credentials or data. Avoid accessing messengers over public WiFi and always use a reputed VPN when on open networks to maintain security.
Outdated software and messengers
Old messenger apps or operating systems often contain vulnerabilities that newer updates and software versions have fixed. Using outdated platforms makes it easier for hackers to gain access. Always keep your devices, messengers, apps etc. updated to the latest versions.
Jailbroken devices
Jailbreaking devices hampers their security protections and opens pathways for malware. Hackers can target jailbroken devices to gain access to installed messengers. Where possible, use messengers on non-jailbroken devices or ensure careful vetting of apps after jailbreaking.
Overshared personal information
Oversharing personal information online aids hackers in resetting account passwords or compromising account recovery emails. Limit sharing details like phone numbers, birthdates, addresses etc. online to protect messenger accounts.
In summary, be vigilant about signs like unusual messages, unknown contacts, loss of access, unexpected logouts, suspicious settings changes, spyware presence, phishing links, reused passwords, unencrypted networks, outdated software, publicly shared QR codes, and oversharing of personal info. Act promptly if you suspect your messenger is hacked.
How to secure your messenger if you think it’s hacked?
If you suspect your messenger account has been compromised, here are some steps to secure it again and prevent future hacking:
- Log out from all devices – This will revoke the hacker’s access
- Change your password – Use a strong, unique new password
- Enable two-factor authentication – Add an extra layer of security
- Recover your account if needed – Via account recovery option or customer support
- Remove unknown contacts – Delete any shady or unfamiliar contacts
- Scan devices for malware – Check for keyloggers and spyware
- Update your messenger app – Make sure you’re on the latest version
- Avoid public WiFi – Use VPN and don’t access accounts on public networks
- Don’t use simple passwords – Have different complex passwords for all accounts
- Be alert for phishing – Don’t click suspicious links asking for account details
Taking these steps quickly can help secure your account and prevent misuse in the future. However, if the hacker has made major changes or continues to access your account, you may need to close the account and start a new one. Maintaining good security hygiene is the best way to protect your online accounts from getting compromised.
What can hackers do once they access your messenger?
Hackers can exploit compromised messenger accounts in various malicious ways. Some of the things they can do include:
- Read personal conversations – Invade your privacy and read sensitive chats
- Send messages from your account – Impersonate you and message contacts
- Access your media – Steal and misuse private photos, videos
- Spread malware – Send infected links or files to your contacts
- Access contacts’ details – Steal contact info of all your connections
- Misuse payments – Make unauthorized transactions via payment integrations
- Post inappropriate content – Share objectionable posts and status updates
- Delete conversations and data – Erase your chats and media stored in the account
- Lock you out of the account – Change credentials and take full control
The extent of damage depends on how quickly you are able to recover your account from the hacker’s possession. In worse cases, hackers can use compromised accounts for months to steal data, spread malware and cause irreparable harm.
How can you avoid messenger hacking?
You can follow these tips to boost messenger security and avoid hacking:
- Use strong unique passwords – Don’t reuse passwords across accounts
- Enable two-factor authentication – Add an extra credential check to logins
- Limit shared personal info – Don’t reveal details hackers can use to reset passwords
- Install antivirus and anti-malware software – Detect potential spyware or keyloggers
- Be wary of public WiFi – Avoid accessing accounts on open networks
- Keep software updated – Use latest versions of messengers and device operating systems
- Don’t jailbreak devices – It disables security protections
- Avoid unknown links – Check sender before clicking links asking for account details
- Review privacy settings – Set account visibility to contacts only
- Monitor account activity – Enable login notifications to stay alert
Following strong security practices minimizes the risk of your messenger accounts being compromised by hackers. It’s also important to be vigilant and act quickly in case of any suspected hacking.
Conclusion
Messenger hacking can have serious consequences like data theft, identity fraud, public embarrassment and contact list compromise. Watch out for common warning signs like strange messages, loss of access, unknown contacts and suspicious activity. If you suspect your account is hacked, promptly take steps like changing your password, enabling two-factor authentication, removing suspicious contacts and scanning devices to regain control and security.
Going forward, adopting precautions like unique strong passwords, extra login security, malware detection, and avoiding unprotected networks can help safeguard your messenger chats and keep hackers away!