Even though it is one of the world’s largest corporations, Facebook is often experiencing security issues. Data breaches and cybersecurity attacks that target Facebook can affect billions of users across the world. Anyone who owns a Facebook account is exposed to the risk of data breaches and identity theft. With Facebook having over 17 billion users, hackers will keep attacking and finding ways to get their hands-on confidential data. Here are the three most common ways Facebook accounts get hacked!
Phishing is by far the simplest way for hackers to get access to people’s Facebook accounts. Phishing is basically a type of scam where hackers create a Facebook login page that looks exactly like the original one. They send fake emails to Facebook users telling them to log in for specific reasons. The users then click the link in the email which takes them to the fake Facebook login page. Once they enter their credentials, all data including usernames and passwords are sent to the hacker’s email. People often fall for these scams because it’s difficult to tell whether a page is fake or not.
Most people use password managers or store their passwords in their browser because it’s convenient. Having all your passwords available at all times makes things easy because you don’t have to memorize anything. However, we don’t recommend storing passwords because if hackers get access to your password manager, they will easily be able to enter your Facebook account. They can also use all the other passwords you have saved, exposing your other social media accounts and credit cards. Password managers are not the safest way to keep track of your passwords. If you cannot memorize them, write them down in a safe place and make sure no one can access them.
Last but not least, hackers often use keylogging to collect people’s data illegally. This process includes a specific type of malware that records everything a user types. Users usually download this malware by mistake or they don’t even notice that it has been downloaded to their device. However, once it is in the device, a keylogging software records everything the person types, including texts, messages, emails, and any other form of text on the device. Hackers later use this info to access Facebook accounts, bank accounts, and other private accounts. What makes keylogging so dangerous is the fact that this strategy is almost unnoticeable. Even the most professional tech users can have some type of keylogging malware on their device without even knowing about it.
Even though Facebook’s developers are constantly working on improving the security of the platform, they can never stay one step ahead of the professional hackers. Facebook itself is not 100% secure, which means its users must take part in protecting their own data and devices. To do so, we recommend using a virtual private network to encrypt all your data and hide all your online traffic. We also recommend learning more about potential security threats and how different safety measures can prevent them.
Speaking of safety measures, the best way to stay on top of online security tasks is to follow the NIST framework. The framework allows users to keep track of their online security and implement the best practices to make sure their data and devices are safe at all times. Besides following the NIST framework and using a VPN, make sure to keep an eye out for suspicious phishing emails and stop using stored passwords!