My Facebook Account Hacked: An Entrepreneur‘s Guide to Recovery and Prevention

As a small business owner, your Facebook presence is vital for reaching customers. But having your account hacked can completely derail your social media strategy – and even jeopardize client relationships if the hacker posts inappropriate content.

The good news? With some diligent monitoring and the right safeguards, you can bounce back from a compromise and lock down your account for good. In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything an entrepreneur needs to know, from recognizing red flags to reforming your security regimen.

How to Tell If Your Facebook Business Page Has Been Hacked

It’s critical to identify a hack quickly in order to limit damages. Here are common signs your Facebook account may be compromised:

  • Strange posts or messages appearing from your account
  • Changes to your profile details like photo, bio, contact info
  • Login errors or unexpected logouts from your account
  • Being automatically tagged in posts you didn’t make
  • Unusual new friend requests sent from your account

You may also receive messages from confused customers or partners alerting you to odd activity. Act swiftly at the first sign of anything suspicious.

Step-by-Step: Recovering Your Compromised Business Facebook Account

If you suspect foul play, locking down your account should be the top priority:

Contact Facebook Support Immediately

First, report your hacked account directly to Facebook through their help center. Submitting an official complaint triggers Facebook to review your account for policy violations stemming from the hack.

Facebook Support Page

Change Your Password AND Security Questions

Once reported, navigate to your Facebook settings and update your password right away. Avoid past passwords or combinations. For better protection, consider adopting a password manager like LastPass or 1Password to generate and save complex passwords.

Also take this opportunity to update your account’s security questions with new responses. This provides a secondary defense that doesn’t solely rely on your password.

Remove Suspicious Activity

Scan your page’s recent posts and messages for content you don’t recognize. Delete anything unfamiliar and let partners know your account was compromised.

Customers will understand if you explain that you’re addressing unusual activity from an account breach. Transparency is key.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Under the Security Settings, switch on an optional but highly-recommended layer of security called two-factor authentication (2FA).

With 2FA enabled, you’ll enter a special one-time-use code sent to your phone whenever logging into your account from a new device. So even if a hacker discovers your password, they can‘t access your account without also stealing your phone.

Disconnect All Unknown Sessions

Still under Security Settings, open up the “Active Sessions” tab. This displays all devices and browsers currently logged into your account. Disconnect any unfamiliar or suspicious sessions to fully sign a hacker out.

By completing each of these steps, you can adequately restore control and security to your business Facebook account after a hack. But taking a few extra precautions will help fortify your social media presence for the long run.

7 Proactive Ways For Entrepreneurs to Lock Down Account Security

Here are my top recommendations as a small business owner for keeping hackers out of your Facebook account:

  • Leverage a password manager – Services like LastPass eliminate the need to manually create and remember complex, unique passwords for every account.
  • Set up two-factor authentication – Enabling 2FA introduces an extra credential (like a code from your phone) that potential hackers won‘t have.
  • Limit connected third-party apps – Reduce permissions granted to outside apps and do routine audits to prune any outdated ones.
  • Monitor notifications settings – Adjust so that you receive alerts about new logins or security changes.
  • Bookmark official Facebook pages – Spot fake phishing pages by cross checking URLs with your bookmarked Facebook login page.
  • Exercise caution with links/attachments – Never enter your login credentials unless navigating directly to Facebook.com yourself. And avoid opening unsolicited downloads sent over Facebook messaging.
  • Keep all software updated – Maintain devices used to access Facebook by promptly installing the latest security patches.

Staying proactive with these tips will help safeguard your business Facebook presence from future intrusions as you grow your company. Customer perception depends heavily on social media – so keeping your account secure should be a priority.

With some dedicated monitoring and protection measures in place, recovering from a hacked Facebook account doesn‘t have to be a catastrophic ordeal. A few precautions go a long way when it comes to fortifying your social media presence against attacks.