If your account has been hacked: Have you ever been on the receiving end of an unwanted message from a former lover or a former best friend? Have you ever been told to prayer group or face a church Social Media. “Blackout” following an event that involved friends and family? If you’re like many other internet users. You’re probably familiar with the concept of a “hack”—a breach of security that results in the disclosure of sensitive information or personal information. If your account has been hacked, you may have been the victim of a data breach. Fortunately, there are ways to repair damage if your Facebook account has been compromised. Here are some ways to fix your Facebook account if it’s been hacked:
Don’t use your real account password
Unfortunately, when someone uses your Facebook account to log in, they can see all the information you’ve shared with friends, such as your profession, education, hometown, interests, and other personal details. Therefore, it’s highly recommended that you don’t use your real account password when logging into Facebook. Instead, you can use a different email account, like your work email, or create a new Facebook account using a different name.
Turn off the microphone on your Facebook page
If you have a set of speakers on your computer, phone, or tablet, you may want to mute the microphone on those devices so that others won’t eavesdrop on your conversations. Facebook allows you to “turn off” the microphone so that only you can hear what’s being said on the page. If you choose to do so, make sure you remember to “on” the mic so that others can still hear what you’re saying.
Don’t click on links in ads or updates
Facebook allows you to click on links in ads or updates to “buy” products or services that have been recommended to you. Although it’s not ideal, this is one way that scammers exploit the site to get people to click on ads or enter sensitive data. As a result, it’s critical that you don’t click on links in ads or updates—even if the ad or update looks like a link. Instead, look for the “click here to view” or “click here to buy” link and “go to page” buttons on the ads and updates you encounter.
Don’t click on links in friend invites
Facebook allows you to “like” or “follow” people you’ve met in person or online. However, some people may use these features to “invite” friends to “like” or “follow” them. Facebook doesn’t recommend linking arms with close friends or relatives just yet, so you shouldn’t “like” or “follow” strangers just yet. Instead, link arms with friends and family who you trust and respect.
Change your email address on Facebook
If you still have a Facebook account, you can change your email address on your account to eliminate any potential future issues with identity theft. It’s best to take this step as soon as you become aware of possible issues with your current email account.
Make sure your phone is locked and service is on
Some people forget to lock their phone when they’re not using it. This may allow someone else to gain access to your phone if it’s sitting in a unlocked state. It’s also important to make sure your phone is set to “locked” and not “unlocked.” This prevents others from changing your phone’s settings and accessing your location, contacts, or other sensitive information.
Tell Facebook to forget about your location
Facebook’s popularity makes it an attractive target for malicious actors. That’s why it’s critical that you tell Facebook to forget about your location. It should automatically remove your location from the site when you log out of Facebook. Unfortunately, some people forget to do this. If you’re unsure whether or not you’ve logged out of Facebook. Just log out and look in the top right-hand corner of the screen. You should see a lock icon. If you see this lock, you’ve logged out of Facebook.
Conclusion
Hackers and malicious actors inevitably try to leverage new technologies and social media to their advantage. In many cases. However, these efforts are foiled by simple precautions users can take to protect their privacy and security online. While it’s important to remember that hackers are likely to keep trying until they succeed. It’s also important to be on the lookout. For signs of a breach and take steps to protect your account from further attacks.
