Has your social media account been hacked? We have 5 tips on how to recover it

Has your social media account been hacked? We have 5 tips on how to recover it. Social media accounts are very often victims of criminals. If such an unpleasant situation happened to you too, then follow these 5 tips to use your account safely again. One of the most common methods used by criminals is to break the security of a social media account. For cybercriminals, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are like window displays in children’s toy shops. Social media users can’t tear themselves away from them not just for a day, but even for an hour. They feel safe and confident communicating openly and freely, and are willing to spend their time and money on social media, much like enthusiasts exploring the vast and vibrant offerings of Stay casino no deposit bonus codes website, seeking entertainment and engagement. And it’s a great way for cybercriminals to get creative. Attacks take many forms – from the impact they have on elections in major countries to breaching the security of bank accounts – and everyone fears falling victim to them. Hackers are constantly looking for new ways to steal passwords, credit card data, photos, and other information that they can use to blackmail users or even steal their identities. If hackers infiltrate your social media account, they can access your hometown information, names of your family members, your date of birth, exact address, city, and even details such as your pet’s name. They can also, among other things, spam friends on your list, publish posts on your behalf, and access other accounts with the same password. This can be very dangerous for you and can cause not only a stressful situation but also financial trouble.

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Signals that the security of your social media account has been compromised

Getting access to your social media accounts by hackers is easier than you think. Beware of the following situations that indicate a security gap:

• Receiving an email informing you that your login details have changed, but you didn’t initiate it.
• Having difficulty logging into your accounts.
• You receive tonnes of spam adverts.
• Suddenly you notice you’re subscribed to people you don’t know.
• Your account is publishing content not created by you.
• You see an account that uses your name and/or your photos.

What should a person do who has been the victim of an attack on their social media account?

5 tips for restoring security

If one of your social media accounts has been compromised – via email phishing or otherwise – follow these tips to visit your account as soon as possible:

1. Log in and check your account details (email address and phone number) to see who has access to your information.

Once you have determined that your social media security has been compromised, check your account information to see if any email address other than yours can access the account. If so, delete that address immediately.

Next, check the phone number associated with the account. This is your phone number that should be associated with your account. If there are unknown numbers on the account, delete them. Often after an account is hacked, an attacker will add a phone number to the account that they can later use to change your login password.

Facebook: in the security and login section, check where your account login is committed, and log out of any sessions you don’t recognise. (Incidentally, it’s also worth checking the additional security features available here.) If you can’t access your Facebook account, try emailing yourself to reset your password and regain access using your registered email address. If you still have problems, immediately tell them your account has been hacked and follow the instructions to regain access.

Twitter: if you can’t access your Twitter account and resetting your password doesn’t help, visit the Twitter Help Centre and select “Hacked account” from the list of options.

Make sure you are using the email address associated with the hacked Twitter account and take steps to regain access to it. You can also contact Twitter support directly: @TwitterSupport.

Instagram: if resetting your password didn’t help, contact the Instagram team directly and follow the steps below to regain access to your account. Follow the necessary steps for your device as described on the Instagram help centre page.

LinkedIn: if you cannot access your LinkedIn account and suspect that its security has been compromised, contact LinkedIn immediately by filling out the “Contact LinkedIn support” form.

2. Immediately change your password to a new one – a strong and unique one – and enable two-step authentication.

One of the reasons hackers are successful in breaking into accounts is that users use simple passwords that are easy to guess. Moreover, users often use the same password for multiple accounts. First of all, you should change your password to a stronger one. The next step is to configure two-step authentication, which is a security technology that can be easily enabled with a single switch. Two-step authentication can be used on most social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, and using this technology is virtually invisible.

Each password should not only be strong, but also unique. Make sure you don’t use the same passwords for multiple accounts.

Twitter: you can change your password on Twitter’s settings and privacy page. It is recommended that you enable login verification and configure settings so that Twitter asks for additional personal information before allowing someone to reset your password. By using this feature, you provide your account with additional protection against hacking.

3. Check the permissions granted to apps and remove apps you no longer use.

When updating your account information, check the list of apps you use through your social media accounts such as Facebook. As time goes on, their number grows. More than one user would be surprised to see how many of them are running.

When you use your social media account to log into another website or app, you’re often sharing a lot of data about yourself – this creates a potential risk. If the security of this type of app is compromised, attackers will have the information they need to access other accounts where they can find more information about you.

If you see apps that you no longer use or shouldn’t be on the list, revoke their permissions. If you want to take more serious steps, you can even revoke all permissions for apps.

4. Use an antivirus programme.

A good antivirus, such as Avast Free Antivirus, will stop any malware before it even loads on your system. This type of software also detects malicious websites, the use of which could cause your social networking account to fall victim to cyber criminals. If the security of any of your social media accounts has been compromised, run an antivirus scanner to remove any malware that may be spying on you or stealing your login details.

5. Check your social media accounts and look for security tips from developers.

Social media sites publish recommendations on actions to take if your account security is breached. Below we provide links to some of them. Thanks to them, you can be sure you are doing everything you can to keep your accounts safe and secure.

Conclusion

Social networks are constantly changing and improving, but they don’t lose their popularity. As such, they regularly attract the attention of cybercriminals trying to steal information from their users. Follow the simple tips from PROject SEO and you will increase the security of your accounts.

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