Introduction to Signs your social media account is hacked

Jason received a call from her cousin, Stacy, who scolded him for making some inappropriate comments on her Facebook post.

But Jason has no idea about any such incident. He swears and makes Stacy believe his innocence in this incident.

After a thorough investigation, Jason discovered that his Facebook account had been hacked by a malicious user who had made an inappropriate comment on Stacy’s profile.

Although the problem was resolved between the two after they realized it was a common situation that could happen to anyone. However, it raises a thought-provoking issue. 

As of today, social media has become a household name due to the various functions it serves, such as connecting us with our friends, family, and colleagues.

Keeping us up to date on the latest news, allowing us to share photos, marketing our products and services, and conducting other business activities.

Furthermore, they can be used for educational purposes.

With all of these benefits come the risk and vulnerability of making our personal information public, unauthorized access, financial and reputational loss, and more.

If we do not want to face the same situation and embarrassment as Jason, the most important thing is to remain vigilant.

Because failing to recognize the gravity of the problem exacerbates the situation. So, catching evil in its early stages can bring you peace.

The question that requires our attention now is how one can be so vigilant that his or her account does not fall into the hands of these scumbags.

Don’t worry, we’re here to assist you in determining the answer to this question. So, let’s get started with some of the indicators that our account has been used by malicious users.

What are the signs that show a social media account has been hacked?

The realization that your account is in the hands of a notorious person is the first step in impersonating any hacking attempt.

Because some hackers do not notify you that your account is under attack. They wanted to carry on their nefarious plans by impersonating you.

It is extremely difficult to determine whether or not your account has been hacked in this situation.

So, for your convenience, here are some indicators that will tell you whether or not your account is under attack.

• Unrecognized Account Activity: The first and most obvious sign that your account is being used by an unauthorized person is when people in your social circle begin complaining about it inappropriate comments from your side. 

The same as we saw in Jason’s case. However, just because your social circle isn’t complaining about inappropriate comments doesn’t mean your account is safe. An unknown activity, such as an unknown friend addition, an unfamiliar post, or any other action, can also be a red flag that your account is in the hands of someone else. 

• Attempts of changing or resetting your password: When you receive a password change notification from the social media platform, this is another clear indication that a hacker is attempting to infiltrate or has already gained access to your account.

Because this notification was not generated in response to any of your activity, you must take the necessary precautions to protect your account.

• Dubious login locations and devices:  Keeping track of your login locations and devices is something that almost every social media platform does. 

Keeping an eye on any such notification can provide you with the knowledge that your account is being accessed by an unauthorized person.

Because it will show you logged in on a device or location you have never visited. However, if you use a VPN tool frequently, this indicator can become confusing.

Other signs of unauthorized access can assist you in this case. 

• Deactivated Security Features: Any hacker who gains access to your account will want to keep it for as long as possible.

They would disable or change the security features of your social media accounts, such as changing your multi-factor authentication, password, and so on, for this purpose.

As a result, this security feature tempering can also alert you that your account is vulnerable to unauthorized access.

• Unexpected and undesired email notifications: Another clear sign that you’ve been hacked is receiving email messages about activities you’ve never done.

These activities could include unidentified check-ins and other actions. All of these indicators point to the fact that your account is under attack.

• An abnormal increase or decrease in friend and follower list: To find out if your social media account is in the wrong hands, look through your friends and followers lists.

Looking at the exponential increase in friends will give you a clear picture, as hackers may use your account to forward malicious codes or messages. 

• Unusual activities over the group or business page: When you discover suspicious activity on your Instagram channel, Facebook page, or Twitter handle, this is another red flag for your account.

These activities can include changing administrative permissions, following a specific account, promoting a product, or redirecting to another webpage or link.

All of these activities pointed to the same conclusion: your social media account has been taken over by a cyber attacker who intends to misuse it.    

• Unfamiliar Apps and connected services: When looking for a clue related to social media accounts unauthorized access, keeping an eye on unknown services or apps associated with your account can be extremely beneficial.

These services and apps are extremely dangerous because they can lead to exploits that can land you, your friends, and other associates in hot water.

• Slower account performance: By analyzing the performance of your social media account, you can easily discover a potential breach within your account.

If it is not acting normally, if your engagement has dropped, or if some of your messages have vanished or reappeared repeatedly, this could be a sign of an intruder.  

• Unknown campaigns in your Ad manager or suspicious financial transactions: Hackers are always looking for ways to profit from their illegal activities.

That is why they use your social media account to run their campaigns or to redirect your earnings to their account.

If you notice such activity, it is a sign of an attack and requires immediate action to mitigate the threat. 

Conclusion-  signs your social media account is hacked

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and others have become a part of our daily lives, and they hold our valuable personal information, which could lead to an irreversible loss.

To avoid all unforeseen dangers, we must be vigilant, which is why we have mentioned some of the methods that can tell you whether your social media accounts are safe or being exploited by an evil threat actor.

If you discover or suspect any unknown activity, we advise you to take immediate action to protect your social media presence.