Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over 2.9 billion monthly active users as of the second quarter of 2022. With so many users, Facebook contains a wealth of personal data and information that can be exploited by hackers for various purposes.
To Steal Personal Information
One of the main reasons people hack Facebook accounts is to steal personal information. Once a hacker gains access to someone’s account, they have access to a trove of sensitive data such as:
- Private messages and chats
- Photos and videos
- List of friends and family
- Birthdates, phone numbers, addresses
- Credit card or payment information if saved
- Page likes, interests and hobbies
- Employment and education information
- Private notes and posts
Hackers can use this personal information to steal identities, commit fraud, blackmail victims, stalk or harass people, or sell the data on the dark web. Identity theft is a major cybercrime that affects millions of people each year, and hacked Facebook accounts provide a wealth of information to enable this illegal activity.
To Spam or Scam Friends
Another common reason Facebook accounts get hacked is to spam or scam friends and connections. Once in control of the account, hackers can start messaging the victim’s friend list under the guise of the account owner. For example, they may send links to malware, get people to donate to a fake cause, trick them into wiring money, or convince them to share sensitive information.
Because the message appears to come from a trusted friend, people are more likely to fall victim to these scams and give the hackers what they want. Hackers can also use compromised accounts to spread fake news or disinformation using the victim’s identity and connections for credibility.
To Post Spam, Malware or Illegal Content
Hackers can take over Facebook accounts to post spam, malware links, illegal products/services, or other questionable or dangerous content. They can automate posts from the account to groups, timelines, Marketplace and other areas, often using keywords or links to avoid Facebook’s spam detection systems.
This content floods the platform with junk information, viruses, illicit items, and more. Hackers make money from the online sale of illegal goods/services, stealing clicks and traffic, distributing malware to unsuspecting users, or building an audience to target with scams. The content can also damage the reputation of the compromised account owner if it’s offensive, illegal or spreading malware.
To Promote Causes or Spread Propaganda
Facebook hacks may be used to spread disinformation or manipulate public opinion by promoting certain causes, political agendas, or propaganda. Accounts with large friend networks and legitimacy can disseminate false narratives to influence groups and events.
State-sponsored hackers and special interest groups may want to sway elections, promote confusion or dissent around social issues, or stir up conflicts through propaganda shared from hacked accounts. The visibility and trust associated with established personal profiles make them useful vessels for manipulating the narrative around topics.
To Damage Reputations
Ill-intentioned hackers may compromise an account solely to post inflammatory, offensive or illegal content in order to damage the account owner’s reputation. By posting morally questionable, dangerous or illegal material while posing as the victim, the hackers can severely harm relationships, get people fired from jobs, or even implicate them in crimes.
The account owner may have great difficulty recovering their reputation after such malicious hacking, especially if the content goes viral before they can regain control and explain the account was compromised. Politicians, celebrities and public figures are common targets of these reputation-destructive account takeovers.
To Cause Emotional Distress
Abusive spouses, bullies, stalkers and other malicious parties may hack into someone’s Facebook account to harass, control or psychologically torment them. By posting damaging information, impersonating them in messages, deleting contacts or spreading lies, the hacker can cause immense emotional distress for the victim.
This type of hacking intends to manipulate, shame or traumatize the account owner. The hacker may be motivated by wanting power over the victim, seeking revenge, jealousy over relationships ending, or even mental illness leading to online stalking behaviors.
For Fun and Bragging Rights
For some hackers, the motivation is fun, curiosity, and bragging rights in the hacker community. They may see it as a challenge to test their skills and gain access to accounts, with little regard for how it affects the victims. Young or inexperienced hackers may compromise accounts to show off to their friends or gain respect.
Once inside, they may do relatively minor things like post silly messages or change profile info, obtaining screenshots to prove their access. While not as malicious as identity theft or defamation, this careless hacking still causes frustration and problems for account owners to deal with.
To Monitor Partners or Exes
Facebook hacking sometimes stems from suspicious relationship partners wanting to spy on, monitor or control their spouse or ex’s account. By covertly gaining access, they can stalk who their ex is talking to, read private conversations, keep tabs on their activities, or make sure they are not in new relationships.
This stems from issues like jealousy, trust problems, and an inability to move on from the relationship. The hacker may feel justified in accessing the account without permission to satisfy their own personal insecurities, suspicions or control needs regarding their partner’s or ex’s activities.
For Activism and Protest
Hackers who want to make political or social statements may target Facebook to gain attention for their cause. Taking over prominent accounts or profiles and posting protest messages, defacements, and other disruptive content can publicize their activist goals.
Anonymous and other hacker collectives have compromised Facebook accounts and pages to protest issues like copyright laws, corporate interests, and authoritarian governments. The visibility of the platform allows them to spread provocative messages widely through account takeovers.
Account Vulnerabilities that Enable Hacking
A variety of vulnerabilities and security weaknesses in Facebook’s platform over the years has enabled hackers to compromise accounts. Some of the main technical flaws or issues exploited include:
- Weak, stolen or compromised account passwords – easy for hackers to brute force or guess
- Outdated or missing two-factor authentication – lacks additional login protection
- Password reset flaws – can reset passwords with limited account info
- Fake login pages – phishing links that steal login credentials
- Facebook API and platform bugs – technical flaws that enable account takeovers
- Malware and keyloggers – record account info secretly on devices
- SIM swapping – porting the phone number to a hacker’s SIM card
- Vulnerabilities in third-party apps – access tokens stolen through insecure integrations
Facebook has put more emphasis on security in recent years, but hackers are constantly evolving their techniques to steal credentials and take over accounts. Users should utilize all of Facebook’s security features, be wary of phishing, and use strong unique passwords to help protect their accounts.
How Facebook Hacking Happens
There are a variety of techniques hackers employ to take over Facebook accounts, depending on their skills and resources. Some of the most common Facebook hacking methods include:
Password Guessing or Brute Forcing
Hackers can simply guess weak passwords, or use automated tools that input hundreds of common passwords to try and gain account access. Phished credentials can be brute forced offline. Enabling two-factor authentication makes this technique more difficult.
Phishing Links
Fake login pages impersonate Facebook’s login to steal usernames and passwords. Links are sent via email, messaging platforms or posted online. Unwitting users enter their info, allowing hackers to log in to their accounts.
Malware and Spyware
Keylogging and data stealing malware installed on phones, computers or networks record Facebook login details and account activity, sending passwords and info back to hackers remotely.
Social Engineering
Manipulating Facebook’s customer service, tricking employees, or conning users into handing over account details or access. Social engineers are skilled at impersonation and psychological tricks.
SIM Swapping
Porting a victim’s phone number to a SIM card hackers control. Allows resetting Facebook passwords via SMS texts. Requires compromising telcos or using social engineering.
Compromised Devices
Accessing stored Facebook login cookies, app tokens or passwords on unlocked phones, shared or compromised computers and gaining persistent account access even without the password.
Facebook Bugs and API Flaws
Exploiting vulnerabilities in Facebook’s platform code or abusing APIs in unintended ways. Advanced hacking that requires finding and leveraging technical oversights.
Third-Party App Integration Issues
Weak security practices by integrated third-party apps lead to access tokens being stolen. Enables account takeovers without the password.
How to Know if Your Facebook is Hacked
There are various signs that may indicate your Facebook account has been compromised or taken over by hackers. Here are some key red flags to watch out for:
- Unusual posts, messages or updates you didn’t create
- Spam or malware links being sent to your contacts
- Profile information like name, password, email or birthday changed
- New friend requests sent to strangers from your account
- Being logged out unexpectedly or unable to log in
- Forgotten password reset emails you didn’t initiate
- New login locations like foreign countries you haven’t visited
- Notifications about account privacy or security changes
The sooner you identify suspicious activity, the quicker you can secure your account and minimize damages from the hack. Enable login notifications, stay vigilant about weird posts or messages, and setup login approvals to help identify unauthorized access.
How to Recover Hacked Facebook Account
If you suspect or confirm your Facebook has been hacked, follow these steps to regain control of your account:
- Login and reset your password – Make it long, complex and unique
- Enable two-factor authentication via SMS or authenticator app for added security
- Remove any unfamiliar third-party app integrations in your account settings
- Check the security and login section for unknown logins or changes – Revoke sessions
- Scan devices for malware, keyloggers or spyware and remove any threats found
- Consider adding trusted contacts for password resets and notifications on changes
- Submit a hacked account report to Facebook through the help center
Doing a thorough security scan, revoking sessions and resetting the password should restore your sole access to the account in most hacking cases. If issues persist, continue working with Facebook support to investigate more complex compromises not fixed by standard recovery steps.
How to Protect your Facebook from Being Hacked
Beefing up your Facebook security settings provides key protections against the various hacking techniques used to take over accounts. Some tips include:
- Strong password – Use random 12+ character passwords, with upper, lower, numbers and symbols
- Two-factor authentication – Require a code from your phone or authenticator app when logging in from new devices
- Login approvals – Have Facebook notify you of logins from new locations via code or prompt
- Password manager – Generate and store unique, complex passwords for all accounts
- Facebook Protect – Enables advanced security for accounts at high risk of targeting
- App approvals – Review app permission requests carefully before approving
- Trusted contacts – Allow selected friends to help with account recovery if hacked
- Password hygiene – Never reuse passwords across accounts or sites
- Account privacy – Use the tightest privacy settings for your info and posts
Enabling all of Facebook’s security options gives your account significant protection against unauthorized logins, even if hackers manage to phish or intercept your password. Consistently practice smart password habits for all your key accounts.
Legal Consequences of Hacking Facebook
Hacking into Facebook accounts is very much illegal, and can result in severe civil and criminal penalties:
- Violates Facebook’s terms of service, resulting in suspended accounts
- Breaks Computer Fraud and Abuse Act with up to 10 years in prison
- Results in state and federal charges for identity theft, fraud and hacking
- Can lead to lawsuits and damages for reputational, financial and emotional harm
- Huge fines up to hundreds of thousands of dollars
Facebook actively works with law enforcement and investigators to track down account hackers. Several notorious hacking groups have been arrested over the years for compromising hundreds or thousands of Facebook accounts. With cybercrime damages soaring, legal repercussions are severe for those caught engaging in unauthorized account access.
Conclusion
Facebook’s ubiquity and wealth of personal information makes it a prime target for hackers seeking to steal data, spread malware and misinformation, make money off fraud, or cause harm to victims. By learning the most common motivations and methods behind Facebook account takeovers, users can better secure their presence on the platform and watch for signs of unauthorized access. Turning on all of Facebook’s enhanced security settings makes it much harder for even skilled hackers to break in.