Facebook can present vulnerabilities and suffer attacks from hackers, even with the investment in several security tools. If the account is hacked, some measures must be taken immediately to try to reverse the situation, recover the account and prevent malicious agents from taking undue action or continuing to have access to the data. Check below for recommendations on what to do if your Facebook profile gets hacked. The procedures can be done in the PC version and also in the application for Android and iPhone (iOS).
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In September, a flaw in the "See how" function exposed 50 million social network accounts to attackers and 90 million profiles had to be disconnected to ensure information security. Another case of great proportions was the controversy with the marketing company Cambridge Analytica, accused of using user data in the 2017 U.S. presidential campaign, which elected Donald Trump.
Facebook: tips to prevent onlookers from looking at your information
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1. How to tell if your account has been hacked
The account, apparently, may not show visible changes after an attack, but there are traces of the hacker that can be identified. It is possible to know, for example, if the profile was accessed by someone else, in addition to the time and place of registration.
Step 1. On the "Home page" click on the options arrow in the upper right corner of the screen and then access "Settings";
Access Facebook's security settings Photo: Reproduo / Rodrigo Fernandes
Step 2. In the "Security and login" tab, see the devices where you recently logged in with your account. Click on "See more" to view the complete list if you do not recognize any access, it may have been performed by malicious people. To log out, click on the three option dots and then "Exit".
It is possible to log out of a suspicious device, but it is recommended to perform this procedure only after changing the password, so as not to alert the hacker that you are aware of the hacking.
Log out of suspicious access to your Facebook Photo: Reproduo / Rodrigo Fernandes
Changing the password is an important attitude to keep track of your profile. If the attacker has not changed the code, it is still possible that he has access to the account. So the security sequence needs to be changed urgently.
Step 1. Also in the "Security and login" tab, click the "Edit" button next to the "Change password" option;
Change your Facebook password to ensure security after a hacker attack Photo: Reproduo / Rodrigo Fernandes
Step 2. Fill in the fields with the new password and finish with "Save changes". To increase security, enable authentication on two factors.
Changing password to access Facebook Photo: Reproduo / Rodrigo Fernandes
The user is able to recover the password through the email registered on the social network. The resource is useful in situations in which the person responsible for the account has access prevented by the alteration of the code by third parties.
Step 1. On the Facebook homepage, click on "Forgot your account?", Just below the password field in the upper right corner;
Facebook allows you to recover stolen password Photo: Reproduo / Rodrigo Fernandes
Step 2. Fill in the registered email and click on "Search";
Enter email to recover hacked Facebook account Photo: Reproduo / Rodrigo Fernandes
Step 3. Select whether to receive the password reset code by email or SMS. Then, you will receive a code and a link to create a new password. Just follow the steps indicated.
Facebook send a code and a link to recover a hacked account password Photo: Reproduo / Rodrigo Fernandes
Another important thing to tell Facebook about what happened. Thus, the platform is also able to improve its tools, take the appropriate measures and help with profile recovery. To do this, simply notify Facebook via native function.
Step 1. Access the Facebook page dedicated to this type of event (https://www.facebook/hacked/) and fill out the form.
Tell Facebook that your account is vulnerable or has been hacked Photo: Reproduo / Rodrigo Fernandes
5. Remove suspicious applications
By allowing third-party applications to use your Facebook account, you can give access to personal information, often for purposes not clearly explained by these developers. With the settings of the social network it is possible to revoke access to your data.
Step 1. Also in the settings, access the "Applications and sites" tab. Then, check the apps you want to delete and click "Remove".
Remove applications synchronized with Facebook to ensure the security of your personal information Photo: Reproduo / Rodrigo Fernandes
Finally, if you no longer have access to your account, let your friends know that your account was stolen and that possible interactions were not carried out by you. Facebook also offers the option of adding trusted contacts to help with account recovery in risky situations, such as an invasion.
Step 1. In the "Security and login" tab in the platform settings, go to the "Extra security configuration" section and add three to five trusted friends.
Add security contacts on Facebook to recover your account more easily in cases of hacker attacks Photo: Reproduo / Rodrigo Fernandes