What happens to a hacked Facebook?

Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over 2 billion active users. Unfortunately, Facebook’s enormous userbase also makes it an attractive target for hackers. Facebook hacks occur when cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to a user’s account and personal information. But what actually happens when a Facebook account gets hacked? Let’s take a closer look.

How do Facebook accounts get hacked?

There are a few common ways that hackers can gain access to Facebook accounts:

Phishing – Hackers send fake login pages or emails that look like they’re from Facebook, tricking users into entering their login credentials. These credentials are captured by the hackers.

Malware/Spyware – Malicious software unknowingly downloaded by users can record passwords and other sensitive data entered into a computer or mobile device.
Credential Stuffing – Hackers use lists of stolen usernames and passwords from other website breaches and try them on Facebook accounts.
Social Engineering – Manipulating Facebook users via psychological tricks to divulge their login info or other personal data.

SIM Swapping – Hackers take over a user’s mobile number by transferring it to a SIM card they control, allowing password reset texts to be intercepted.

Once hackers gain a user’s login credentials through these tactics, they can access the Facebook account.

What information is at risk when a Facebook account is hacked?

A hacked Facebook account puts a lot of a user’s personal information at risk, including:

Basic profile info – Name, birthday, location, etc.
Posts and photos – Years of shared posts, photos, videos, and more.
Private messages – Hackers gain access to conversations with friends and family.

Friends/contacts – Full list of the user’s Facebook friends.
Linked accounts – Other social media or email accounts linked to Facebook.
Payment info – Credit card or other payment data stored on Facebook.

In essence, by hacking your Facebook account, cybercriminals can steal your identity and easily impersonate you online. They can leverage all your personal info and connections for a variety of nefarious purposes.

What can hackers do with a compromised Facebook account?

Unfortunately, the potential damage from a hacked Facebook account is quite extensive. Here are some of the most common things hackers do after gaining access:

Access private data – Hackers can download your photos, messages, and other sensitive info for blackmail or identity theft.

Post embarrassing/malicious updates – They may post offensive status updates or images pretending to be you.
Spread malware to friends – By hijacking your account, hackers can post malware links that appear to come from you.
Take over your linked accounts – With access to your login info, hackers can infiltrate your email, bank, or other linked accounts.

Lock you out – Hackers can change your password and enable two-factor authentication to deny you access.
Commit fraud – They may attempt to scam your Facebook friends out of money by impersonating you.

In the wrong hands, everything on your Facebook profile can be weaponized to stalk, embarrass, steal from, or impersonate you. Even worse is when hackers leverage your account to spread malware or scams to your friends and contacts.

How can you tell if your Facebook account has been hacked?

Watch out for these warning signs that may indicate your Facebook account has been compromised:

Unfamiliar posts or messages – Status updates, photos, or private messages you didn’t create.
Changed profile details – Alterations like a different birthday, location, job, etc.

Unusual login locations – Facebook will notify you if your account is accessed from an unknown device or IP address.
Friend requests to strangers – A hacked account may send spammy friend requests on your behalf.
Being locked out – A sudden inability to login may indicate the password or email was changed.

Notifications about resetting your password – Unprompted notifications about password resets you didn’t initiate.

If you notice any suspicious account activity like this, there’s a good chance your Facebook profile has been hacked. Time is of the essence – the longer hackers have access, the more damage they can potentially do.

What should you do if your Facebook account gets hacked?

Follow these steps immediately if you believe your Facebook account has been compromised:

Log out of all active sessions – On desktop, go to Settings & Privacy > Security and Login and hit “Log Out Of All Sessions.” Doing this logs any hackers out of your account.
Reset your password – Change your password immediately to something completely new that the hackers won’t know.
Enable two-factor authentication – Turn on two-factor authentication via SMS, authenticator app, security key, or other method.

Check linked accounts – Examine any accounts like email or Instagram that are linked to Facebook and change their passwords too.
Review privacy/security settings – Check that your privacy, tagging, app, and other security settings haven’t been changed by hackers.
Report the hack to Facebook – File a report via Facebook’s form for hacked accounts so they can take action.

Taking quick action like this can lock hackers out before they’re able to do too much damage. Make sure to look for any suspicious friend requests, posts, or messages sent during the hack and clean them up.

How can you better protect your Facebook account against future hacks?

Once you’ve regained control of your account, take measures to prevent future hacks including:

Strong password hygiene – Use long, complex passwords that are unique for Facebook.

Two-factor authentication – Require an authentication code from your phone or authenticator app to log in.
Review login notifications – Pay attention to emails/texts about new logins to spot unauthorized access.
Login approvals – Require confirmation of unknown logins via codes sent to your phone.

Limit linked apps/sites – Only connect essential apps and sites to your Facebook to reduce avenues of attack.
Privacy checkup – Double check that your profile and posts aren’t too publicly accessible.
Caution with apps/surveys – Avoid questionable quizzes, games, apps that request your data.

Stay updated – Keep your Facebook app and mobile OS up-to-date to patch security flaws.

With strong account security measures in place, you can use Facebook freely with greatly reduced risk of another hack.

What should you do if Facebook doesn’t help with a hacked account?

In most cases, Facebook’s security team will work to restore access and secure a hacked account if properly reported. However, there are instances where Facebook’s support options may fall short. If you run into obstacles getting help from Facebook, here are some additional steps to take:

Keep trying Facebook support – Persistently file new reports explaining the issues until content is removed, access is restored, etc.
Contact Facebook moderators – Reach out to real Facebook employees via @facebookapp on Twitter for personalized help.
Report individual pieces of content – Use Facebook’s tools to report objectionable posts, photos, etc. one-by-one.

Get legal help – Consult a lawyer experienced with social media issues to send Facebook a formal notice, document damages, etc.
Check for malware – Scan all your devices in case your account was hacked via spyware or Trojan on your end.
Deactivate temporarily – Temporarily deactivate your Facebook account until a compromise is resolved.

With persistence and patience, you can usually get Facebook to aid with most hacked account issues. But if all else fails, shutting the account down or seeking legal counsel may be your last resorts.

Conclusion

Facebook hacks expose users to identity theft, embarrassment, malware, fraud, and a multitude of other threats. But by learning the signs of a compromised account – and taking quick action if it occurs – you can greatly limit the damage. Be sure to activate enhanced security settings like two-factor authentication after regaining control to keep the hackers at bay for good.