Tips for recovering from a compromised Facebook account

 

INTRODUCTION

If your Facebook account has been compromised, follow these steps to restore access.

Those who aren't famous but have had their Facebook account hacked might wonder, "Why would someone want to hack my account?"(fb account hacked how to recover 2020)

However, it is far from unusual for Facebook accounts to be compromised. Someone could be interested in hacking your Facebook account for a variety of reasons. Theft of sensitive information such as passwords and login credentials is one incentive, but spamming your online contacts is another.

Hacking social media accounts has become an everyday occurrence for whatever reason. This is why, if your Facebook account has been compromised, you need to know what to do to get it back.

Several cybersecurity experts contributed to this detailed advice on how to restore a compromised Facebook account and prevent a recurrence. (And don't miss our advice on how to hide your Facebook profile, how to ban and unfriend someone, and how to keep your identity, personal information, and possessions safe.)

1.  Verify that someone has actually hacked into your account.

Click the arrow in the top right corner of your Facebook page to open a menu and report any suspicious activity, such as unauthorized changes to your profile information (such as your name, birthday, email address, or password), unsolicited messages or friend requests, or content on your timeline that you didn't create.

When you go to the menu by selecting Settings and Privacy > Settings. To see where you are currently logged in, head to the Security and Login menu. Your account may have been compromised if you see a login from an unfamiliar device or location. 

2. Cancel the intruder's session.

Select the ellipses (...) if a device you don't recognize logs in. next to it, then either Not You? or Log Out. By doing this, the attacker will be temporarily prevented from accessing your account. This lessens the impact of the breach and gives you more time to reclaim and secure your account.

3. Warn your associates

If someone has gained access to your account, they may have already messaged others on your friends list. You should warn them not to click on any links or download any apps that you may have shared with them while the intruder was in control of your account and you were using your wall, Facebook messages, or Facebook email.

4. In short, you should update your Facebook password.

If the intruder has not altered your password, you can do so without any trouble. Select Login and Security again, then click Change Password under the Login section.

"Change your passwords on all sites where you use the same password," said Cosette Jarrett, a web-marketing expert in Salt Lake City.  If someone gets your password for just one service, they could get it for all of them.

This is why it is so risky for users to recycle old passwords. If you use a reliable password manager to generate unique, strong passwords for each of your online accounts, you can put an instant end to this problem. Create a secure password using these criteria.

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 5. If the hacker has altered your password, 

Because hackers are so crafty, resetting your password isn't always as straightforward as going into your account settings and doing so.

Click the Forgot Your Password link that appears just below the Facebook login window to begin the process of creating a new password. You'll have to prove your identity by entering details like your Facebook username, the email address you used to create your account, your phone number, or the names of two Facebook friends.

If you suspect that the hacker has altered any of your profile information, this final option may be your best bet.

6. Inform the appropriate authorities that your account has been hacked

If you find that your compromised account is being used to send advertisements or spam, you can report it here (opens in new tab). Once you've reported the issue, Facebook will provide you further instructions on how to fix it.

7. Be wary of harmful software

When you've regained access to your account, head back to the Settings page where you changed your password or looked for unauthorized logins and select the Apps link from the sidebar. If there are any programs that didn't get added by you, go through the list and delete them by clicking the "X" next to their names. Keep in mind that unused applications will eventually stop working.

8. Protect your Facebook privacy

It's okay if someone uses your Facebook account.  However, this experience can serve as a useful reminder to tighten up account security.

A lot of safety recommendations(opens in new tab) can be found on Facebook itself. Use a strong password for Facebook that you don't use anywhere else; don't access Facebook from a shared computer without first logging out; protect your computer with the best antivirus software (or the best Mac antivirus software, if you're using an Apple device); and be wary of any suspicious links or files you download. In addition, when connected into Facebook, you can perform a Security Checkup(opens in new tab).

Strengthening your Facebook security is a smart idea even if you haven't been hacked. Many Facebook accounts are compromised because of third-party applications, so it's a good idea to keep the number of programs running on your computer and mobile device to a minimum.

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Even if you know and trust the people who share content in your news feed, you should not click on any adverts or links that look suspect. Keep your mobile operating systems and desktop web browsers up to date at all times. When you're finished using Facebook for the day, make sure to log out.The analogous holds true for equivalent platforms. Users' accounts on social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others have been hacked in a variety of methods. Keep your guard up and use common sense while you're online, and you should be alright.