Scams, Spam, and Hackers – OH MY! A Guide to Not Getting Hacked on Social Media

As the use of social media has grown, so too has the risk of getting hacked on social media.

Understandably, we’ve all been there. Yes, even me!

Therefore, I know this comprehensive guide will help you understand and prevent the threats associated with social media hacks.

The Alarming Rise of Social Media Hacks

Just this month, millions of social security numbers were leaked from a hacker. Yikes!

With billions of users and an abundance of personal information, social media platforms have become prime targets for cybercriminals.  However, this doesn’t only affect big brands and celebrities. It affects everyday users as well.

For instance, take me.

In 2020, B Squared Media was hacked on Facebook. This happened even though we have two-factor authentication turned on!

It took us six months of working with Facebook to have all of our money returned. As a result, we put several more measures in place to help with hacking.

I’m going to share them with you below!

Four Common Ways People Get Hacked on Social Media

Generally, knowing the most common ways you may experience hacking on social media is helpful.

Below, I’ll share the four most prevalent types of attacks that lead to scams.

1) Phishing Scams Lead to Being Hacked on Social Media

Undeniably, phishing is the most common method for hackers.

Phishing scams often come in the form of emails, messages, or posts that look like they’re from trusted friends or official sources. But, when you click on a link or provide personal information, it can lead to a full account takeover.

We’ve seen an uptick in “Facebook” (it’s not really Facebook) sending messages inside of Page Inboxes. The message threatens to shut down your account due to a violation of terms and conditions.

Obviously, you panic. Then, that anxiety leads you to click.

DON’T DO IT!

As Facebook says on their site:

Facebook will never ask you for your password in an email or send you a password as an attachment.”

Furthermore, always check the validity of the Page or email address where the message is being sent from.

2) Fake Contests

Meanwhile, many more people have experienced hacking on social media through fake contests and giveaways.

These scams ask users to provide personal information or share a post widely, which results in their account being compromised.

Always check the website for which a contest is affiliated before clicking any links or sharing any information.

For example, Six Flags (who scammers target often), tells their community to do this to help combat fake ticket scams from hackers targeting their brand.

3) Impersonation Accounts

Hackers often create impersonation accounts that look identical to real profiles.

They use these accounts to trick your contacts into sharing personal information or clicking on harmful links, leading to accounts getting hacked on social media.

4) Clickbait and Malicious Links: A Gateway to Getting Hacked on Social Media

Clickbait links often use sensational headlines that, when clicked, lead to malicious websites. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a whole page dedicated to these!

For instance, when you click on these bad these links, you may inadvertently download malware or expose your accounts to hackers. Which also increases the likelihood of getting hacked on social media.

The fix? Hover over a link to see its true destination. For a visual, see below.

On the BBB webpage, I hovered over the “phishing scams” link before clicking. Once I put my mouse over the link, the URL popped up below.

Overall, don’t click on links leading to unfamiliar websites!

How to Protect Yourself from Getting Hacked on Social Media

There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from getting hacked on social media.

1) Strengthen Your Passwords

One of the most effective ways to avoid getting hacked on social media is to use strong, unique passwords.

Combine letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid using easily guessed information. For example, I use Random Password Generator to help me come up with complex passwords.

[Avast: Random Password Generator]

You should also use a password manager to keep your passwords secure. We use LastPass.

2) Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) to Avoid Getting Hacked on Social Media

Additionally, two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an additional layer of security. This makes it much harder for hackers to gain access to your accounts, even if they have your password.

2FA works by requiring a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone.

For example, here’s what 2FA looks like on my mobile phone for my LinkedIn profile (the platform I use the most).

[LinkedIn Mobile App]

In this case, any attempt to sign in to LinkedIn from an unrecognized device must input a code that comes directly to my mobile phone.

For more, Mashable has an article on how to set up 2FA on most social media channels: CHECK IT OUT HERE.

3) Be Wary of Third-Party Apps

Yes, third-party apps can be useful. However, they can also be a security risk.

Before granting access to your social media accounts, make sure the app is trustworthy and only requests necessary permissions.

You should regularly review and remove any apps you no longer use to reduce the risk of being hacked on social media.

See step-by-step instructions for the major social platforms below.

1. Facebook

1. Log in to your Facebook account.
2. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select Settings & privacy, then Settings.
3. In the left-hand menu, click on Security and login.
4. Scroll down to Apps and Websites and click View and edit.
5. Here, you’ll see a list of apps that have access to your account.
6. Review each app and click Remove next to any app you no longer use or recognize.
7. Confirm by clicking Remove again in the pop-up window.

2. Instagram

1. Open Instagram and log in.
2. Go to your profile and tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner and select Settings.
4. Tap on Security.
5. Scroll down and select Apps and Websites.
6. Here, you can see Active, Expired, and Removed apps.
7. For Active apps, tap Remove next to any app you no longer use.

3. Twitter (X)

1. Log in to your Twitter account.
2. Click on More from the left-hand menu and select Settings and privacy.
3. Under Security and account access, click on Apps and sessions.
4. Click Connected apps.
5. Here, you’ll see a list of apps that have access to your account.
6. Click on an app to view details and select Revoke app permissions for any app you no longer use or recognize.

4. LinkedIn

1. Log in to your LinkedIn account.
2. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select Settings & Privacy.
3. In the left-hand menu, select Data privacy.
4. Scroll down to Third-party apps and click Change next to Permitted services.
5. Review the list of apps, then click Remove next to any app you no longer use or recognize.

5. Google (for YouTube, Gmail, etc.)

1. Log in to your Google account.
2. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select Manage your Google Account.
3. In the left-hand menu, click on Security.
4. Scroll down to Third-party apps with account access and click Manage third-party access.
5. Review the list of apps and click on an app, then select Remove access for any app you no longer use or recognize.

Regularly reviewing and removing third-party apps from your social media accounts is critical. Do this regularly reduces the risk of being hacked on social media. Not to mention, it keeps your personal information secure.

4) Update Privacy Settings to Protect Yourself

Social media platforms frequently update their privacy settings. But, we never read them!

Instead, use this step-by-step guide to review and adjust privacy settings:

1. Facebook

1. Log in to your Facebook account.
2. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select Settings & privacy, then Settings.
3. In the left-hand menu, click on Privacy.
4. Under Your Activity, review who can see your future posts by clicking Edit next to Who can see your future posts? and adjust it to Friends or a custom setting.
5. Review How people find and contact you by clicking Edit next to each option (e.g., who can send you friend requests, see your friends list, etc.) and adjust the settings to your preference.
6. Go to Profile and Tagging in the left-hand menu and adjust who can post on your profile, who can see what others post on your profile, and other tagging settings.
7. Click on Blocking in the left-hand menu to review and manage people, apps, or pages you’ve blocked.

2. Instagram

1. Open Instagram and log in.
2. Go to your profile by tapping on your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner and select Settings.
4. Tap on Privacy.
5. At the top, under Account privacy, you can toggle Private account on or off to control who can see your posts.
6. Scroll down to Interactions to control who can comment on your posts, mention you, and send you direct messages.
7. Under Connections, manage who can see your activity status and who can see your story.

3. Twitter (X)

1. Log in to your Twitter account.
2. Click on More from the left-hand menu and select Settings and privacy.
3. Under Privacy and safety, click on Audience and tagging to control who can see your tweets and whether others can tag you in photos.
4. Go to Your Tweets to control settings like adding location to your tweets and who can see your tweets.
5. Click on Direct Messages to decide who can send you direct messages.
6. Under Safety, you can control who can see your content and mute/block specific accounts.

4. LinkedIn

1. Log in to your LinkedIn account.
2. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select Settings & Privacy.
3. In the left-hand menu, select Visibility.
4. Adjust who can see your profile, your connections, and who can follow you.
5. Under Data privacy, control how LinkedIn uses your data and manage your active sessions and devices.
6. In Communications, adjust who can contact you via LinkedIn and how.

5. Google (for YouTube, Gmail, etc.)

1. Log in to your Google account.
2. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select Manage your Google Account.
3. In the left-hand menu, click on Data & privacy.
4. Scroll down to Your data & privacy options and review the settings for data sharing, ad personalization, and web & app activity.
5. Adjust who can see your Google Photos, YouTube playlists, and more under the Manage your data section.
6. In Security, review which devices have access to your account and set up alerts for unrecognized logins.

Finally, make sure you regularly review and adjust your settings to control who can see your information. A quarterly “clean up” is my best advice.

5) Monitor Your Accounts to Catch Potential Hacks Early

Regularly check your social media accounts for any suspicious activity.

Most platforms provide tools to review recent logins and account changes. During your quarterly clean, check out the recent logins to make sure they’re legit.

Steps to Take If You Get Hacked on Social Media

Getting hacked on social media happens, despite your best efforts. Knowing what to do when it happens can minimize the damage.

So, here are the steps you need to take if you’re hacked.

1) Change Your Passwords Immediately If You’ve Been Hacked on Social Media

First, change your passwords immediately after getting hacked on social media. This action will lock the hacker out and prevent further damage.

Don’t forget to use a tough password that isn’t likely to be hacked!

2) Report the Incident to the Platform

Second, report the hack. Social media platforms have procedures for reporting hacked accounts. If you are hacked, or even suspect you are, follow their guidelines to regain control of your account.

Be patient, as no social media platform has a great process for being hacked.

3) Warn Your Contacts If You’ve Been Hacked on Social Media

Third, warn your friends! If you’ve been hacked on social media, the hacker might try to scam your contacts.

Let your friends and followers know your account was compromised. Use email or a different platform to message them, and advise them not to engage with any suspicious messages they received from you.

4) Strengthen Security Settings After Recovering from a Hack on Social Media

Then, once you regain control of your account, take steps to improve your security settings.

Set up multiple barriers, including:

• Enabling 2FA
• Setting up login alerts
• Review all account access (and remove any unknown users)

Staying Safe from Getting Hacked on Social Media

Overall, protecting yourself from hackers on social media is more important than ever.

Stay informed. Take proactive security measures. Remain vigilant.

Remember, staying safe on social media is a combination of awareness and action.

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Brooke B. Sellas

Brooke B. Sellas is an award-winning Customer Marketing Strategist and the CEO & Founder of B Squared Media. Her book, Conversations That Connect has been recognized nationally and is required reading for a Customer Experience class at NSU. Brooke's influence in digital marketing is not just about her accomplishments but also about her unwavering commitment to elevating the industry standard of digital customer experience and customer marketing.

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