And it is that, unfortunately, the hacking of accounts in social networks is the order of the day; it is more common than you imagine. If you wait for Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to send you a warning message about a possible cyberattack, it could already be too late but there are some steps you can take and they will save you more than one headache. Likewise, if it has happened, that you suddenly enter one of your social networks and see a series of publications that you have not uploaded, what to do? How should you answer? which are the steps to follow? We will tell you.
1. Change passwords
This is first of all. There are many people who have had the same passwords for a decade, and this is an invitation for hackers. And not only do they not update their password, they tend to reuse the same passwords for all of their social media accounts. This is inadvisable. Therefore, once someone has hacked into our Facebook account (for example), it is only a matter of time before they try to enter our other social networks with the same password / username combination. Remember that even if you have your profile with a strong privacy setting, if the computer intruder has logged in as if it were you, everything you have published will be available, something that could include data as sensitive as your address, hometown, date of birth or even bank details.
2. Notify everyone
If you suspect that a social network has been hacked, you have to notify everyone you know on it. It is your responsibility to protect them so that they are warned not to click on anything that comes from that assumption you until everything is solved. Check when you can, too, if there are apps or ads placed on your account and delete them.
3. Lock your bank accounts
Remember that the usual thing is to have the same or similar passwords in our accounts, although it is not recommended. So if your Instagram or Facebook account is hacked this could just be the beginning of a snowball of problems if hackers use this information to hack into your bank accounts as well. To prevent, it is important that some content and information are only available to your closest friends and family, not to the general public.
4. Limit your chances of being hacked more safely
Use two-factor authentication whenever possible. It is an extra barrier that they will have to jump and it is confirmed that it is a deterrent tool for network thieves. If they don’t have your phone physically, they won’t be able to hack into your account. The more obstacles you put, the more difficult it will be for your accounts to be compromised.
5. Always keep your computer and phone updated
In the same way, do not lose sight of the news about cybersecurity. It is not necessary to become an expert , but having a basic knowledge of how online scams work and if a new threat has emerged on social networks, it is important not to fall for it.
One tip: When updating your accounts, we also recommend that you try to use complex security questions whenever possible. And the answers should be something that you know, not something that can be extracted from your posts on social networks. And if you want to further increase your network security, you could consider using a VPN, Tor, or Google’s advanced protection program.
