Facebook is such a major social media network, fraudsters are increasingly interested in hack Facebook accounts.
While there are several ways to prevent the next individual who uses the device from accessing your account, logging out is the simplest. If your smartphone or device is stolen, though, it’s a different storey. In this post, we’ll go over some of the factors that lead to Facebook hacking, as well as some of the steps you may take to prevent outsiders from gaining access to your personal Facebook account.
Reasons for Facebook Hacking
1. Weak Passwords
Hackers can easily acquire Facebook accounts by guessing or using a brute force attack if the password is simple and often used, such as a nickname, phone number, partner’s name, or pet name. A hacker can access your account and do whatever they want with it once they get your password.
2. Phishing Emails
Phishing is by far the most straightforward method for hackers to get access to Facebook accounts. Phishing is a scam in which hackers create a fake Facebook login page that looks identical to the real thing. They send bogus Facebook emails instructing people to log in for specific reasons. The users then go to the phoney Facebook login page by clicking the link in the email. All data, including usernames and passwords, is transmitted to the hacker’s email address after entering their credentials. Because it’s impossible to discern if a page is genuine or not, many people fall for these frauds.
3. Remote Keylogging
Users frequently download malware by accident or are unaware that it has been downloaded on their device. Once installed, however, keylogging software captures anything the person types on the device, including SMS, messages, emails, and any other kind of text. Hackers then use this information to access Facebook accounts, bank accounts, and additional personal information.
4. Man In The Middle (MITM)
A man in the middle attack can occur when a user unintentionally connects to a fake WiFi network. Hackers can potentially use this method to access Facebook accounts. Because it’s public, you won’t always tell which WiFi is genuine. It’s normal for it to take you to a login page where you’ll have to put your email address and a password before being granted Internet access. Again, the attacker has logged this information and can use it to test your login credentials on other social networking sites without your knowledge.
5. Use of Stored Passwords for Malicious Purposes
Because it is handy, most users use password managers or store their passwords in their browser. Because you don’t have to memorise anything, having all of your passwords convenient at all times makes things easier. We don’t recommend storing passwords, though, because if hackers gain access to your password manager, they’ll be able to access your Facebook account easily.
They can also access your other saved passwords, revealing your other social media accounts and credit cards. Password managers aren’t the most secure way to handle your passwords. If you can’t remember them, write them down in a safe location where no one else can see them.
Ways to Prevent Your Facebook Account from hacking
1. Strong Passwords
You probably already have a Facebook password, but it’s a good idea to make sure it’s unique and different from the passwords you use for other internet services, such as email, blogging, and hosting. Small and capital letters, numbers, and symbols are the best combinations for passwords. Consumers should use a strong password that includes numbers, symbols, space bars, and lower and uppercase letters.
2. Security for Phishing Attacks
Users must be trained and informed about their properties to spot phishing emails.
It is suggested to not click on any links or open any attachments if you receive a strange email. Do not reply to suspicious emails, especially those that want your password or credit card information. Entering personal information with the help of a pop-up screen is not the best idea.
3. Secure browsing should be enabled
You can use the Secure browsing option, among other things, to ensure that your browsing activities on Facebook are safe. By doing so, you automatically prevent all Facebook-integrated third-party apps from harming you or stealing your personal information without your knowledge or consent.
4. Disconnect Previous Active Sessions
Facebook’s advantage is that it keeps track of your prior active sessions, where you logged in, and what on devices. Now, go to Account Settings > Security, check for ‘Active Sessions’, and click Edit to ensure your account is protected.
All prior sessions will now be listed, with the most recent session at the top of the list. Click the End Activity link to stop the activity on other devices.
5. Spam links should be avoided
Facebook takes spam very seriously and constantly improves its capabilities to ensure that you are not a scam victim. Money scams via direct or indirect requests via Facebook messages, chat, etc., phishing links that take you to websites, harmful URLs that could retrieve your personal information or even harm your machine are examples of the types of attacks. There’s also a potential you’ll get emails from ‘Facebook,’ but they’re actually from a phishing website; this is a fraud tactic.