In recent months, a troubling trend has emerged that’s impacting both individual users and businesses on Facebook. Reports show a significant increase in account hacks, with scammers finding new ways to gain unauthorized access. Unfortunately, many businesses have fallen victim to these Facebook account hacks, leading to substantial financial losses as scammers hijack ad accounts and run costly paid ad campaigns.
Every month hackers break into a staggering 1.4 billion social media accounts. This problem is only getting worse as more people join social networks. Facebook, one of the biggest social platforms, has a billion users who share personal information daily. With so many people using Facebook to connect with friends and family and for promoting their businesses, protecting your Facebook Account is crucial.
You can guard against hackers, identity thieves, and others who might try to access your account without permission by taking a few simple steps. In this blog, we’ll explain why protecting your Facebook account is essential, and how you can do it.
The Rising Trend of Facebook Account Hacks
Facebook and Instagram account hacks are on the rise, and leaders from 41 U.S. states are worried. They say that after Facebook’s parent company, Meta, fired many workers in late 2022, including those who helped keep accounts safe, scammers have been able to trick and steal from more people.
When hackers break into accounts they cause a lot of problems. They try to scam the account owner’s friends, get accounts blocked, and mess with private information. This is causing big issues, with many victims asking for help. Some states are getting ten times more complaints about hacked accounts than they did in 2019.
And, if your business Facebook page and Ad Account is connected to your personal Facebook account, it can cause major problems for your business. Hackers could delete your page, disseminate incorrect information, or even steal your credit card information or run expensive paid ad campaigns that could hurt your business and waste your money.
Why Do Hackers Want Your Account?
Hackers target social media accounts for various reasons. Sometimes it’s personal- such as a friend hacking your account as a prank, or an ex-partner getting revenge. Although most hacks aren’t personal, hackers can use your account to hurt you. They might send nasty messages to your friends, try to extort money from your connections, share private photos, or erase your contact list. Some hackers might try to blackmail you or your friends.
When it comes to Facebook business pages, more commonly they’re after accounts with unique usernames. These can be sold on the Dark Web, like digital vanity plates. It’s important to protect your business assets at all costs.
Beware Of Phishing Emails
Scammers often send fake emails that look like they’re from the Facebook security team, trying to trick you into revealing your login credentials or downloading harmful software. These phishing emails are designed to make you feel anxious or rushed, urging you to act without thinking—like claiming your account will be closed if you don’t respond immediately. Remember, Facebook will never ask you to disclose sensitive information via email. Always exercise caution before clicking on anything in an email, especially if it feels urgent or suspicious. Always be careful about clicking anything in an email.
Learning to spot these emails can help keep you safe online. Here are some clues that an email is not to be trusted:
- Scammers often use email addresses that look almost like real ones but with minor changes.
- Be careful if an email asks for personal information like passwords or credit card numbers. Real companies almost never ask for this kind of information through email.
- Watch out for emails with attachments or links you weren’t expecting. These could put harmful software on your computer or take you to fake websites.
- Many phishing emails have spelling mistakes or use odd language.
- If an email asks you to do something unusual, like confirm your account details or change your password, be careful. It’s safer to go directly to the company’s website by typing the address yourself rather than clicking a link in the email.
Facebook Essential Security Tips
Learn how to safeguard your Facebook account with these simple yet effective security measures:
- Strong Passwords: Create a strong, unique password for your Facebook account. Mix uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Don’t use obvious information like birthdays or common words. Use a different password for Facebook than you do for other accounts.
- Authentication Settings: Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) or 2-factor authentication (2FA) for your Facebook account and any associated services. This adds an extra measure of security step by preventing access to your account without a code sent to your phone.
- Secure Your Email: Make sure your email account is secure, as it’s often the key to resetting your Facebook password. Use a strong, unique password for your email.
- Regular Account Checkups: Make it a habit to review your Facebook account settings regularly. Look for any unusual activity, review recent logins, and confirm the devices that have access to your account. Over time, you may have given various apps and websites permission to access your Facebook account. Regularly review these in your Facebook settings. Look for any apps you no longer use or don’t recognize and remove access to these accounts.
- Check Your Login Locations: Facebook allows you to see all the devices and locations where your account is currently logged in. Check this list periodically in your security settings. If you spot any unfamiliar devices or locations, you can log them out.
- Privacy Settings: Facebook offers various privacy controls. Use these to manage who can see your posts, personal information, and friend list. You can set defaults for future posts and adjust settings for past posts. Be particularly careful about information visible to the public. Review these settings regularly.
- WiFi Security: Public Wi-Fi networks, like those in cafes or airports, are often unsecured. This means others on the same network could potentially intercept your data. Avoid logging into Facebook on these networks if possible. If you must use public Wi-Fi, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) app.
- Security Questions: When setting up security questions, choose questions that are difficult for others to guess or find through online searches. Avoid common questions like your mother’s maiden name or your birthplace.
- Stay Vigilant: Be alert for suspicious messages or posts on Facebook. Phishing attempts often include urgent requests, odd links, or messages that seem out of character for the sender. They might ask you to log in to Facebook again or claim there’s a problem with your account.
What to Do in the Event of a Facebook Account Hack
If you suspect your Facebook account has been hacked, don’t panic. There are several steps you can take to regain control and secure your account. First, try to log in. If you can, check your recent login activity for any suspicious devices or locations. If you spot anything unusual, log out of all sessions immediately.
If you can’t log in, it likely means the hacker changed your password. In this case, ask a trusted friend to check your profile for any changes to your name, picture, or posts. You should also report the hack to Facebook using their dedicated page for compromised accounts.
Whether you can log in or not, changing your password is crucial. Do this on all devices, and make sure to log out of all active sessions. To prevent future hacks, enable two-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a code sent to your phone when logging in from a new device.
After securing your account, inform your friends about the hack. The hacker may have used your account to contact them, possibly asking for personal information or money. Finally, take this opportunity to review your privacy settings. Decide what information you want to share and with whom. Remember, it’s better to be cautious with your online presence.
If unauthorized charges have been made from your Facebook ad account, inform the Facebook team promptly. They will be able to refund the fraudulent transactions.
Conclusion
Everyone’s accounts are exposed to hackers. However, by taking the steps mentioned above, you can reduce your chances of it happening. Although these steps prove effective, it’s still possible for you to be the victim of hacking, so always be careful. Update your account information, review settings, and change your passwords regularly. In addition, research the latest ways that hackers are trying to steal your information. By being vigilant, you can keep your account as secure as possible from Facebook account hacks.
If you find running your company’s social media and staying on top of all the security issues onerous, then we should connect for a free strategy session! You’ll learn how we keep our clients social media accounts safe and how we can relieve you of the burden of posting.
