Facebook is regarded as one of the leading social media platforms in the world. Sadly, with its popularity comes a risk of cyberattacks. Hacking of Facebook accounts is the most common problem that most of the Facebook users have to deal with. If you get locked out of your account or see unusual activity, you need to act quickly. This guide explains what to do if your Facebook account has been hacked and how to recover a hacked Facebook account.

Signs of a Facebook Account That Was Hacked

Before you start recovering your Facebook account, it helps to understand the signs of a hacked account. You may also find out your account has been hacked if you see any of these signs:

• Off-Normal Posts: Posts that you did not create, such as status updates, photos, or comments.
• Password Changes: You can no longer log in, as your password doesn’t work anymore.
• Unrecognised Devices: Devices that you do not recognise have logged into your account.
• Messages You Didn’t Send: Your friends get weird messages from you that you never sent.

If you notice any of these signs, take action right away to secure your account.

Attempt to Sign In and Update Your Password

If you are still able to access your Facebook account, your first action should be to change your password. A good password is very important to keep your account secure.

Steps to Change Your Facebook Password:

• Visit the Facebook login page.
• To log in, enter your email address or phone number and password.
• If you’re logged in, click on the downward arrow in the top right corner and go to Settings.
• Under the Security and Login section, click on Change Password.
• Type in a new, strong password, then click Save Changes.

Use one that features a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not use easy stuff to guess, such as your name or your birthdate.

Try Facebook’s Account Recovery Tool.

If you can’t log in because your password has been changed, don’t panic. Facebook has an account recovery tool that may be able to restore access to your account.

How to Use Facebook’s Account Recovery Tool:

• Visit the Facebook login page.
• Click Forgotten password? below the password field.
• Type the email address or phone number linked to your account.
• Facebook will then send a recovery code to your email or phone.
• Type the code into the designated field and click Continue.
• Based on your response, follow the on-screen prompts to reset your password.

After you get back into your account, change your password as soon as possible to avoid future intrusions.

Check Your Email for Security Alerts

Facebook sends security alerts if there is any suspicious activity in your account. Such alerts can be received on the email ID registered with your Facebook account. If your account was compromised, you should have received an email alerting you of the unauthorised change.

How to Use the Email Alerts from Facebook:

• Scrub through your inbox for messages from Facebook.
• If so, you should see emails referring to changes in your password, email address, or other account settings.
• If you discover an email that confirms someone else changed your password, click on the link in the email to lock your account.

If you didn’t receive any email notifications, you should check spam or junk folders—they may have landed in one.

Secure Your Account with Two-Factor Authentication

An extra layer of your Facebook account security is two-factor authentication (2FA). It asks you to enter a second verification code (sent to your phone) on top of your password when you log in. This makes it significantly more difficult for hackers to gain access, even if they have your password.

How to Turn on Two-Factor Authentication:

• Sign into your Facebook account.
• Visit Settings > Security and Login.
• Scroll to the bottom to Two-Factor Authentication, then click Edit.
• You can select the method you would like to use, either SMS or an authentication app (such as Google Authenticator).
• Complete the setup by following the on-screen instructions.

Once 2FA is active, it should mitigate future hacks and provide an extra level of security for your account.

Review Your Recent Activity

Once you’ve reclaimed access to your account, you should review any recent activity. This will enable you to ascertain what the hacker might have done with your account while it was in their control.

How to Review Your Activity:

• Go to your Facebook profile.
• Tap Activity Log (in the More tab).
• View recent posts, comments, likes, and messages.
• Check for any unusual activity you can’t account for.

If you see something suspicious, immediately delete or report it.

Remove Unrecognised Devices and Apps

Hackers commonly access your account with unknown devices or applications. To make sure they don’t still have access, you should check which devices and apps were connected to your account.

How to Remove Devices You Do Not Recognise

• Navigate to Settings > Security and Login.
• To see them: Under Where You’re Logged In, review the list of devices currently logged into your account.
• For any unrecognised devices, select Log Out next to the device name.
• If you didn’t do that, then consider resetting the password once again, just to ensure nobody can log in.

How to Uninstall Apps You No Longer Want:

• Settings > Apps and Websites.
• Go through the apps you have linked to your Facebook account.
• Delete any apps that you don’t recognise or don’t use anymore.

You’ll be making it much more difficult for hackers to reclaim access to your account by removing unfamiliar devices and apps.

Report the hack to Facebook.

If you still can’t recover your account with the steps above, you’ll need to report the hack directly to Facebook. They can assist you in recovering your account and in investigating the breach.

That is how you report a hacked Facebook account:

• Visit the Facebook Help Centre.
• Look for hacked accounts or go to the compromised accounts page.
• Be sure to follow the prompts to report the hack and request help.

If you cannot recover your account on your own, then Facebook has a dedicated support team that can help you regain access to your account.

Prevent Future Hacks

Once your account is secure, you should take steps to prevent future hacks. Here are some steps you can take to improve the security of your Facebook account going forward:

• All New Rules of Creating Strong Passwords: Generate a password strong enough so that hackers cannot guess it.
• Use Two-Factor Authentication: Helps to provide an additional level of security to your account.
• Avoid Clicking on Suspicious Links: You never know when an unsolicited email or message contains a phishing attempt.
• Log Out of Other Computers: When on a public or shared computer, be sure to always log out of your account.
• Make Sure Your Device Is Safe: Use antivirus software and regularly update your device’s operating system.

Hope these recommendations help you avoid your account spread on the social network Facebook in the future.

Conclusion

Having your Facebook account hacked can be a very frustrating and stressful event. But, as we have seen today, if you act fast and follow the simple steps above, then you can get your account back and make it secure for the future. Use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication on them, and make a habit of checking your accounts periodically for unusual activity. Taking care to be vigilant, you can always ensure the safety of your Facebook account and have a more positive experience surfing the web.