Protect your Facebook Account from Hackers. Every Facebook User Needs to Know This!

Having your account hacked can be a horrible ordeal. Losing your contacts, photos and messages is no doubt annoying at the very least, but if it’s your only way of contact for a lot of people, then it can become very frustrating. You might have to start a brand new Facebook account and add your friends all over again. But if your phone number was associated with the hacked account, then you can’t reuse it. Meaning the two-factor authorisation also can’t be used.

I often hear the comments of “I’ve got nothing to hide” or “there’s no money in my account anyway”. But your identity is much more important and that is what these hackers can take from you. And if your identity is also your business, then ‘poof’ that’s also gone. All the advertising you’ve worked so hard to create and all those followers on your list… starting over, suddenly doesn’t sound so easy.

To send spam messages to your friends - messages coming from a familiar person is more likely to be answered/actioned.
To look legit - spotting a fake account can be easy enough, but taking over an establishment account is more likely to seem legitimate.
To use details you may have shared via Messenger chat - accessing Facebook will also access Facebook Messenger, which means all those private chats between friends could expose passwords or other sensitive data.
Money - it always leads to money.

There are several ways they attempt to hack any account, and the easier it is, the more likely your account is next. These measures are used in all sorts of hacking - not just Facebook.

Common passwords - there are websites which show all the most commonly used passwords used on the internet. A computer can test all these passwords on any account in seconds.
Guess your password - is your password the name of your child or pet? Or your birthday or of someone close to you? An easy scroll through your Facebook feed can give you these answers.
Social engineering - where you’ve been tricked into clicking on some link you believed was real. Often these links will ask you to sign in, which is actually sending the hacker your password directly.
Email link - if you receive an email from Facebook asking you to verify your password, by clicking the link.
Random phone call - someone calls claiming there is an issue with your account and you need to share passwords or other sensitive information. Big red flag here.
Remote access - is when a hacker gets you to install a remote access app onto your phone, tablet or computer. A code appears on the app, which if given to the hacker, gives them total access to your device, which makes it easy to access your account and change your password (and much more!)

Firstly, you want to check if your account is secure, as in, it isn’t already hacked. With Facebook, once hackers gain access to your account, they sit there quietly hoping you won’t see them. This is because in order for Facebook to trust the hacker, they have to look like it is just you, which has logged in from another device. This process can take weeks or months, but once Facebook trusts them, they are free to change your password and lock you out of your account.

Change your password
Check to see if anyone is logged into your Facebook account
Check your trusted devices
Add two-factor authorisation
Ensure your are receiving notifications regarding changes to your account
Run the privacy checkup features in the settings

Most importantly, once these steps are accomplished DO NOT STOP THERE!

Believe it or not, hackers still find their way around these.

Make a note of your recovery codes
Add an authenticator app

Knowing your account is secure is very reassuring and making it as hard as possible to be hacked, gives you every chance you’ll remain safe.

Remember, the easier it is for hackers to steal, the more likely it is, they will do it. If they have to spend a lot of time attempting to hack you, chances are, they’ll move on. It is a job for these people, to hack you. It is one of the most profitable business models in the world.

Australians lost nearly $3 billion in 2023 and $1 trillion worldwide last year! Don’t be a victim and take control.

If you’d like to make an appointment to work through these steps together, or for any other information regarding your device - please call 07 4882 3113 during office hours.

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