My Facebook account has been hacked [2024] 💥

Updated: April 8, 2024 | by: Martijn Assie, creating websites & shops since 20 years, also Linux-, Wordpress-,
Photoshop- and SEO expert. | NL DE

If you believe your Facebook account may have been hacked, it's crucial to promptly update your password, even if you currently cannot access Facebook.

Facebook, with its vast user base of over 2 billion people, is a prime target for hackers. While major hacking incidents often capture headlines, numerous smaller-scale attacks go unnoticed, impacting only a fraction of Facebook's users.

1. Indicators of a Hacked Account

Your password or email address has been altered.
Changes to your name and/or birthdate have been made.
Unfamiliar friend requests have been sent from your account.
Existing friends have received duplicate friend requests.
You notice posts in your timeline that you didn't create.
Your friends report receiving unusual messages from you.

2. Common Hacking Methods

Hackers often gain access through reused passwords, keyloggers, answering security questions, stolen devices, or public PCs left logged in. They may also employ social engineering tactics. If your Facebook credentials are compromised, it's crucial to act swiftly to limit the damage and prevent further unauthorized access.

3. Reporting the Hack to Facebook

If you're unable to recover your Facebook password or regain account access, report the hack to Facebook:

Visit Facebook's Compromised Account page.
Click "My Account Is Compromised."
Enter your email address or phone number associated with your account and click "Search."
Enter an old or current password and click "Continue."
Select a reason for believing your account was hacked and click "Continue."
Follow the prompts to change your password and secure your account.

4. Removing Unfamiliar Apps

Delete any Facebook apps you don't recognize or no longer use, as they may have had access to your personal information:

Open the Facebook menu by clicking the arrow at the top right.
Select "Settings."
Choose "Apps and Websites" from the left pane.
Click "Remove" next to any suspicious apps.
Confirm the removal and delete any posts, photos, or videos made by the apps.

Review app access levels and the information shared with them by clicking "View and Edit." Also, check the "Apps, Websites" page for expired or removed apps and their data handling policies.

5. Alerting Your Friends

Notify your Facebook friends about the hack and advise them not to click on any suspicious links from your account. Hackers may have posted on your friends' pages, commented with links, or sent private messages during the hack.

Enhance your account security with measures such as two-factor authentication, regular password changes, strong passwords, and Facebook's security check-up. Additionally, verify if other social accounts, like your YouTube account, have been compromised.