It can be worrying and frustrating when you notice your Facebook account sending messages or posts you didn’t authorize. Spam on Facebook is unfortunately pretty common, but the good news is there are steps you can take to secure your account and prevent future spam messages.
What causes Facebook spam?
There are a few potential causes of spam messages being sent from your Facebook account:
- Your account has been hacked – If a hacker gains access to your account, they can use it to send spam or malicious links. This is one of the most common causes of Facebook spam.
- A virus or malware on your computer – Viruses and malware can sometimes access your account and use it without your knowledge. Make sure you have up-to-date antivirus software.
- Third-party apps – Granting permission to questionable third-party apps can give them access to send messages from your account. Be cautious what apps you connect.
- Compromised email – If you use the same email and password for your Facebook account that has been compromised on another site, it can lead to your Facebook being hacked.
- Fake pages – Scammers sometimes create duplicate or imposter Facebook pages of real people and businesses to send spam messages.
How to stop Facebook spam
If you notice your account is sending spam messages, take these steps to secure it:
- Change your password – Updating your password prevents continued access from anyone who may have already gained entry.
- Enable two-factor authentication – Two-factor adds an extra layer of security to your logins to keep out unwanted access.
- Remove unauthorized third party apps – Check your app settings and remove anything unfamiliar or suspicious.
- Check filtered message requests – Spam messages may get caught in your message request filters rather than being visible on your timeline.
- Scan devices for malware – Run antivirus scans on any computers or phones linked to your Facebook account just in case of infections.
- Report fake accounts – If you find duplicate or imposter accounts misusing your name or image, report them to Facebook for removal.
How to remove Facebook spam
If unwanted spam messages have already been sent from your account, here’s how to try to remove or limit the damage:
- Delete the messages – If the spam is visible on your Facebook page, delete it as soon as possible so it’s no longer public.
- Disconnect from Pages you’re an admin of – Scammers can gain access to Pages and groups you manage to post spam content. Temporarily remove yourself as an admin.
- Warn contacts – Let your friends and connections know your account was compromised and to disregard messages they may have received.
- Disable your account – Temporarily deactivating your account can pause the ability for further abuse or spam while you regain control.
- Change account and sharing settings – Adjust your account settings, limiting old posts and changing sharing permissions to further curb spam.
- Reset privacy settings – Spammers may have altered your privacy settings, so check and reset them to your comfort level.
How to strengthen your Facebook security
Once you’ve cleaned up spam and secured your account, keep it protected against future infiltration with these security practices:
- Complex passwords – Create long, complex passwords that would be difficult for hackers to guess.
- Limited password reuse – Avoid reusing the same password across multiple sites and accounts.
- Review login locations – Check your Facebook security settings for unfamiliar or suspicious login locations.
- Privacy settings – Tighten up your privacy settings so only friends can view your full profile and posts.
- Limited public info – Be wary of how much personal info is publicly listed on your profile that could aid hackers.
- Caution accepting requests – Only accept friend requests from people you actually know to stay safe.
Staying vigilant on security will help keep your account safe from future spam issues.
How to know if your Facebook was hacked
Some common signs your Facebook may be hacked include:
- Spam messages being sent from your account
- Forgotten contacts added as new friends
- Suspicious posts or links appearing on your timeline
- Password no longer working and being locked out
- Emails about unrecognized logins from Facebook
- Profile language, content, or settings suddenly changing
- New admins on Pages you manage but didn’t approve
If you notice any of these issues, take steps to change your password and secure your account right away. Enable login approvals and review your settings to check for anything unfamiliar that may indicate compromise by hackers. Stay alert on Facebook security to help detect potential hacks quickly.
What to do if you think your Facebook is hacked
If you suspect your Facebook account has been hacked, here are important steps to take:
- Log out of all devices – Boot any logged in sessions to fully log the hacker out.
- Change your password – Update to a new, complex password hackers won’t guess.
- Deactivate connected apps – Remove any approved apps you don’t recognize or need.
- Turn on login approval – Require an additional code or confirmation step to log in.
- Check security settings – Review all account security settings for anything suspicious.
- Scan devices – Run antivirus scans on your computers in case of malware infections enabling the hack.
- Contact Facebook – Use Facebook’s account security features to report unauthorized access.
Taking quick action as soon as you notice any signs of hacking can help limit the damage and regain control of your account. Monitor activity closely going forward to spot any future suspicious behavior.
How to prevent Facebook hacking
These Facebook security best practices can help avoid getting hacked in the first place:
- Strong unique passwords – Don’t reuse passwords between sites or use common passwords that are easy to guess.
- Enable two-factor authentication – Add an extra login step via text, authenticator app, or security key for improved security.
- Review login notifications – Pay attention to emails or texts about new logins so you can report suspicious ones.
- Limit authorized apps – Only connect apps from reputable developers you fully trust.
- Beware phishing scams – Avoid opening links or downloading attachments that seem suspicious to avoid malware.
- Check privacy settings – Confirm your profile and posts are locked down from public viewing.
- Monitor friend requests – Only accept requests from people you actually know to avoid imposters gaining access.
Staying vigilant against hacking attempts and taking preventative measures will help secure your Facebook presence and peace of mind.
How to recover your hacked Facebook account
If hackers have locked you out of your Facebook account, recovering access is possible by:
- Using Facebook’s account recovery steps – Confirm your identity to override unauthorized changes.
- Contacting Facebook support – Report your issue and submit ID verification to regain entry.
- Requesting a login code via email – Tap “Forgot Password” and request a code be emailed to you.
- Resetting your password – If able to log in, change your password immediately.
- Removing unauthorized apps or devices – Disconnect anything you don’t recognize from account settings.
- Scanning for malware – Check your system for keyloggers or info-stealing infections.
With persistence and patience, you can typically recover control of your Facebook from hackers. Enable extra security settings once your access is restored to keep hackers out for good.
Conclusion
Facebook hacking and spam can be frustrating and concerning, but there are ways to protect your account and reclaim access if compromised. Stay vigilant against phishing attempts, use strong unique passwords, limit app permissions, and enable extra login approvals. Monitor your activity closely and be quick to report any unauthorized access. With proper security habits, you can feel confident keeping your Facebook account hack-free.