In today’s world, we share almost everything through social media. This is why social media can be seen as extensions of our identity. But, how to get your social media account when a hacker takes control? Here’s what you can do:
1) Try to Access Your Account
Change your password to a strong and unique one. Make sure to log out of all other devices. Lastly, add an extra layer of protection to your account by enabling two-factor authentication.
What To Do If You Are Locked Out?
It is useful to make use of the ‘forgot password’ option. After that, follow the recovery steps through email or phone. You should immediately report the issue to the platform, in case there is suspicious recovery email or phone changes.
2) Report The Hack To The Platform
Each platform has a dedicated process through which you can provide as much detail about the hack as possible. For example, you can share screenshots, timestamps and suspicious messages, which can be of great help.
3) Check If There Is Any Damage Caused
Once you are able to access your account, make sure to check recent activity such as unknown logins, messages, or posts. It is a wise decision to delete offensive or spam content, while notifying your contacts that your account was hacked.
4) Strengthen Your Account
Use trusted antivirus software to scan your devices for malware. In case you reused the same password in other accounts, make sure to change them. Lastly, review connected apps.
5) Learn From The Experience
Create and store strong, unique passwords by using a password manager. Remember not to click suspicious links or share login information anyway. And at last, follow cybersecurity news updates to stay updated about phishing.
