As a small business owner, having your personal or business Facebook account hacked can be detrimental. From losing access to important contacts and emails to hackers impersonating you online, a compromise of your Facebook profile can turn your life upside down.
I‘ve helped dozens of entrepreneurs recover from Facebook hacks over the years. By following this comprehensive guide, you can quickly report hacks to Facebook, secure your account, and reduce the chances of future attacks.
Carefully Check for Signs of a Hack
It‘s critical to be vigilant about monitoring your Facebook account for any suspicious activity indicating it may have been hacked or compromised. Some warning signs to watch for include:
- Being locked out of your account suddenly
- Password change notifications you didn‘t initiate
- Strange posts or messages sent through your profile
- Emails from Facebook about changes you didn‘t make
- Login alerts from unknown locations or devices
Facebook estimates over 150 million accounts were compromised last year alone via phishing schemes. So if anything seems off, it‘s best to act quickly.
Use Facebook‘s Security Tools Immediately
If you discover unauthorized changes or access, Facebook makes it easy to report it:
- Go to the Facebook Help Center
- Click “Report a Problem” at the very bottom
- Choose “Something Else” followed by “Hacked or Impersonated Account”
- Submit details about the hack through the guided tool
Alternatively, you can contact Facebook‘s dedicated security team who can investigate and restore your account access:
- Click “Get Help from Facebook” at the bottom of the Help Center
- Select “Report a Login Issue”
- Choose option to “Contact Our Support Team”
- Provide info about how/when your account was hacked
During this process, Facebook will walk you through resetting your password, securing your account, and regaining control.
“By quickly reporting unauthorized access, Facebook can halt a hacker‘s actions before they have a chance to misuse an account or spread malware further,” says Marcus Williamson, Cybersecurity Expert.
Take Steps to Prevent Future Attacks
Once you regain access, it‘s vital to upgrade your Facebook security to prevent your account from being targeted again in the future:
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
One of the most important things you can do is set up two-factor authentication, which requires entering a special login code from your phone whenever you access your account. This adds an extra barrier to prevent a hacker from getting in, even if they have your password.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Also be sure you‘re using an entirely new, complex password that hasn‘t been used anywhere else online. The best passwords contain a random mix of at least 16 upper and lower case letters, symbols, and numbers.
Carefully Check Login Activity
Routinely check your Facebook login history under Security Settings. Remove access immediately from any unknown or suspicious devices to keep intruders out.
By taking a proactive, defensive stance around security, you can help shield your Facebook presence from being compromised even in an evolving threat landscape. Reach out anytime if you need help getting back into a hacked account — I‘m always glad to help fellow entrepreneurs recover from these disruptive situations. Let me know if you have any other questions!
