Your Social Media Account Was Hacked - Now What?
Old Problem, New Precedents
The hacking of social media accounts is nothing new, yet these instances are growing at an unprecedented rate. Between February 2020 and February 2021, the United Kingdom’s National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre received 15,214 reports of email and social media hacking. The Centre found that accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat were the most frequently compromised. Notably, the report also indicated that phishing was most common technique used to hack social media accounts.
Given these increases, it is crucial that social media users understand how to protect the security of their accounts and what to do in the event of a breach.
Account Compromise and What to Do about It
1. Change the passwords for your email and social accounts immediately.
This option might not always be available, because some cybercriminals will lock victims out of their accounts. However, if you are able to change your passwords, do so immediately and only utilize passwords that encompass random strings of letters, numbers, and characters. It is important to also bear in mind that passwords should be unique to a single account, so avoid utilizing the same password for multiple accounts.
2. Run anti-virus and anti-malware scans on your device.
It is important to ensure the hackers did not plant any suspicious software on your device. Therefore, it is highly recommended to download anti-virus and anti-malware software from a reputable company and scan your devices. Trustworthy software companies include: Bitdefender, Norton, McAffee, and Avast. If the tests detected any unusual applications or software, delete it immediately and restart your device(s).
3. Notify your friends and contacts about the incident.
This step is extremely crucial, as hackers have been known to send spam messages to other users from the compromised account in an effort to exploit future victims. Inform your contacts that they should avoid opening messages or clicking on links sent from your account until further notice. If you are informing them via email, include all recipients’ email addresses in the Bcc line to maintain confidentiality.
4. File a report with the corresponding platform.
Ensure that you contact the appropriate service provider and inform them about the hack. Here are a list of resources for reporting issues with a social media account:
Preventing Future Instances of Account Compromise
The idea of a stranger accessing personal details and accounts is very unsettling and can be stressful. But with some simple security measures, you can help prevent your information being compromised. Here are some ways to protect your social media accounts:
Always enable two-factor authentication on all accounts.
Never click links or download attachments contained in emails or messages unknown senders, especially if the content contains alarmist or urgent language (e.g. discount offers, claims that you have been the victim of a crime, etc.).
Regularly update the passwords linked to the accounts, as well as those linked to the corresponding email addresses.
Do not use the same password for multiple accounts.
Always use strong passwords that comprise random characters and are difficult to guess.
Avoid logging into any personal accounts, including banking, email, or social media, from any device other than your own personal one. Even if using a friend’s computer, ensure that you do not allow web browsers to remember your credentials or use public Wi-Fi to access these accounts.