Having your Facebook account hacked can be a scary and frustrating experience. Unfortunately, hacking and account compromise are becoming more common on the platform. When your account is taken over by a malicious actor, they can gain access to your personal information, post content that appears to come from you, message your friends, access your payment sources, and more. Recognizing the signs of a hacked Facebook account quickly is important for regaining control and securing your account. Some common indications that your Facebook may have been hacked include:
Suspicious posts or messages
One of the most obvious signs of a hacked Facebook account is posts, comments, or private messages that you didn’t write yourself appearing on your timeline or being sent from your account. For example:
- Odd links, images, videos, or text posts on your timeline that don’t sound like something you would normally share
- Messages sent containing suspicious links or attachments that could be used for phishing or malware
- Spam messages sent to your friends, especially those including links or asking them for money or personal information
- Abusive language or threats sent from your account that don’t align with your normal behavior
If you see messages or posts suddenly appearing that you definitely didn’t create yourself, that’s a clear red flag.
Unexpected changes to account settings
Hackers who gain access to your account may make changes to your profile and account settings. Watch out for:
- Your profile picture, cover photo, or bio info changing unexpectedly
- Unknown email addresses or phone numbers added to your account’s security settings
- Your primary email associated with Facebook changing without your doing so
- New unknown administrative roles granted to other accounts
- Login notifications coming from unrecognized devices or locations
These types of unapproved changes are signs your account security has been compromised.
Being unexpectedly logged out
Many users suddenly find themselves abruptly logged out of their Facebook account and unable to log back in. This can indicate:
- Your password was changed by a hacker accessing your account
- Two-factor authentication was added by the hacker, locking you out
- Facebook detected suspicious activity and logged you out as a security precaution
If this happens unexpectedly, especially coupled with other odd activity, it likely means your account has been compromised.
Friends reporting strange messages or posts
Often, the first indication people have that their Facebook was hacked comes from their friends and connections on the platform. Your contacts may notice suspicious messages or posts coming from your account and let you know something seems off. Always take these reports seriously, even if you haven’t noticed anything amiss yourself yet. They likely have spotted signs of account takeover that haven’t appeared in your own feed or notifications yet.
Ads or pages you don’t recognize
Hackers who gain access to Facebook accounts frequently use them as platforms for spreading malware, spam, and scams. Watch for:
- Ads running from your account promoting suspicious-looking apps, products, or services
- Fake pages or groups created under your account’s name
- New pages or groups you don’t remember liking or joining yourself
Seeing promotions connected to your account for apps, products, or services you didn’t authorize is a big red flag for account compromise.
How do hackers gain access to Facebook accounts?
Now that you know what signs to watch for, how do hackers break into Facebook accounts in the first place? Some common tactics include:
Password guessing or brute force attacks
If your Facebook password is weak, short, or reused from other compromised accounts, hackers can gain access by guessing or cracking your password. Brute force attacks try common passwords until they find one that works.
Phishing schemes
Fake Facebook login pages or security warnings can trick users into entering usernames and passwords that hackers then collect. Phishing links are commonly spread via email, texts, social media posts, or scam websites.
Malware and spyware
Keylogging or info-stealing programs on your devices record Facebook activity and passwords, sending your information back to hackers. Dangerous links, attachments, and sketchy apps can install these programs.
SIM swapping
If your Facebook account uses SMS-based two-factor authentication, hackers may attempt to transfer or “swap” your SIM card to intercept security codes.
Credential stuffing
Lists of usernames and passwords leaked on other platforms are tried on Facebook to find working logins. Enable two-factor authentication to protect against this.
Purchased logins
Unfortunately, a black market exists where hackers sell access to compromised accounts. Credentials for in-demand platforms like Facebook are frequently traded.
Protecting your account from hackers
Once your Facebook has been hacked, it’s important to regain access and secure it. But the best defense is preventing unauthorized access in the first place. Here are key ways to keep hackers out of your account:
Strong, unique password
Use a long, complex password that’s unique and not reused on other accounts. Password managers make this easy. Enable two-factor authentication as an extra layer of security.
Review privacy settings
Check your privacy and account security settings regularly. Limit what information is visible publicly and which accounts can see your posts.
Watch out for phishing
Don’t enter your login credentials on unsolicited links or suspicious emails/messages. Go directly to Facebook.com or the app.
Install security software
Antivirus, anti-malware, and internet security programs help detect and block threats and unauthorized access attempts on your devices.
Monitor account activity
Regularly review posts from your account, privacy settings, login locations, and security options to spot unauthorized changes early.
Avoid sketchy apps
Be cautious what third-party apps you connect to your Facebook account. Vet them thoroughly first, as malicious apps can steal your information.
Recovering a hacked Facebook account
If your account has already been compromised, act quickly to get it back:
Log out all sessions
From a computer, go to your Facebook settings and log out all sessions to kick the hacker out. Change your password if able.
Run a virus scan
Scan your devices for malware that may have led to the account takeover or could re-compromise it. Remove anything suspicious found.
Contact Facebook
Report the hacked account to Facebook through their help pages. You may need to submit ID to prove account ownership if you’ve been locked out.
Alert friends
Let your Facebook contacts know your account was compromised in case they received any odd messages from you. Have them report suspicious posts.
Enable two-factor authentication
Once you regain access, make sure two-factor authentication is turned on for extra security going forward.
Change passwords
Not just on Facebook, but on any accounts that used the same or similar password. Tweak passwords on your other social media accounts as well.
Review settings and activity
Double check privacy configurations, security options, and account login history to spot any other changes the hacker may have made.
Conclusion
Facebook hacks and account takeovers are increasingly common in the digital age. Being alert to the warning signs like strange posts and messages, sudden logouts, and changes to your profile or settings can help you catch an account compromise quickly. Practicing good password hygiene, avoiding phishing schemes, monitoring your activity log, and enabling two-factor authentication are key ways to keep hackers out in the first place. If your account does get hacked, act fast to regain access, scan for malware, alert contacts, and further strengthen your security settings. With vigilance and good digital safety habits, you can help protect your Facebook account from being compromised by malicious actors.
| Signs of a Hacked Facebook Account | How Hackers Gain Access | Ways to Protect Your Account |
|---|---|---|
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|
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| Type of Attack | Description |
|---|---|
| Password attacks | Guessing weak or common passwords, brute force attacks |
| Phishing | Fake login pages to steal usernames and passwords |
| Malware | Keyloggers, info-stealing programs installed via dangerous links or files |
| SIM swapping | Taking over the target’s phone number to intercept 2FA codes |
| Credential stuffing | Trying compromised username/password combos from other breached sites |
| Purchased logins | Access to compromised accounts sold on black market sites |
| Recovery Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Log out all sessions | Kick the hacker out of your account from settings |
| Run a virus scan | Check for and remove any malware found |
| Contact Facebook | Report compromised account and prove ownership |
| Alert friends | Let contacts know to report suspicious messages |
| Enable 2FA | Add extra login security with codes from an authenticator app |
| Change passwords | Update passwords on Facebook, other social media, and reused accounts |