Hacked? Here’s How to Regain Control of Your Social Media Accounts
January 28, 2025
By Luke Van Beek • Personal Banker
Have you ever gotten a strange notification about your email or social media account? Maybe you receive a message that someone changed your password or logged in from an unknown device. These could all be signs that your Facebook, Instagram or other social media account has been hacked.
Social media accounts are goldmines for hackers. They contain valuable personal information like names, emails, birthdays, addresses, and even private messages, photos, and videos. With this information, criminals can commit identity theft, spread malware, or scam others.
In this article, we'll cover what to do if you think your account has been compromised.
How to know if your social media has been hacked
Hackers often try to trick you by pretending to be one of your friends on social media They might send you a message asking for help getting back into their own social media account, with a message that contains a link. Click on this link, and that one simple click could give the hacker all they need to control your account -- and access a whole profile of personal information they will use to try and steal your identity.
Signs of a hacked account
Here are some signs your Facebook or social media account might be compromised:
- You receive a notification about a change to your email address, phone number, or password that you didn't make.
- You get a message that someone tried to log in to your account, successfully or unsuccessfully.
- Your friends or family report getting messages or comments that you didn't send.
- You're unable to log in to your account, even with your correct password.
What to do if your account has been hacked
If you're still able to log in to your account:
- If you are able to still log in to your account, locate your account settings and change your password, ideally something that is 12-15 characters long, with a mix of capital letters and symbols -- and something different than anything you've used before.
- Sign out of your account on all of your devices and re-login with your new password.
- Enable two-factor authentication if it's an option. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification code, usually sent via text message or email.
- Update your account recovery information, ensuring the listed email address and phone number are correct.
If you can’t log in to your account:
You will need to start the process of recovering your social media account. We have linked some popular recovery instructions here here:
Finally, if you believe your personal information has been stolen, report it to IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan.
By following these steps, you can protect yourself from the dangers of a hacked account and take back control of your online identity.