Facebook-How to Fix a Hacked Facebook Account

Facebook, a social networking website, allows users to add friends, send messages, share photos, and join networks. Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook while he was a student at Harvard. The website's name stems from books given at the start of each year by the administration to help students get to know each other.

The size and popularity of these sites has made social-networking objects of interest from hackers and spammers. The site, at first glance does not seem like a gold mine for cheats and swindlers. Unlike financial websites, which offer access to bank accounts, the bad guys know we are lazy, forgetful and use the same password on multiple sites.

Earlier scammers used email. People were trained not to click on suspicious emails; however, they do not operate with this caution on social-networking sites. That is another reason why phishing attacks in which people are fishing for account information has increased.

Facebook monitors user activity. When an account moves from a few wall posts a week to multiple messages in minutes, the security team assumes that your account has been hacked, and moves in quickly. They will notify you to reset your password, and the whole issue is usually resolved within a few hours for you. Unfortunately, few scammers get caught, and this part may take a very long time

Instructions

1. • 1

     If your account has been hacked and there is access to your login email address, reset your password by selecting the "Forgot" link that appears above the Password field on the Login page. When you have done this, an email is sent to you with steps for this process.

   • 2

     If your login email has been compromised or changed, and your account has been hacked, then you need to send Facebook a status update. This will allow them to look into it further. http://www.facebook.com/help/?faq=15838

   • 3

     If your email account has been compromised, please take the following steps:
     • Think of a unique and complex password and keep it unavailable to everyone. You can accomplish this from the Account Settings page of your account or by using the "Forgot" link on the login page.
     • Do step one for every email address associated with this account. Make sure to avoid using the same password for any other account.
     • Verify all email addresses associated with your account on the Contact Email section at https://www.facebook.com/editaccount.php
     • From your Facebook Account Settings page, complete a unique security question to your account, if you have not already done so.
     • Report to Facebook any and all suspicious material at http://www.facebook.com/security

   • 4

     If money transfers were sent from your account, and you did not send them, cybercriminals could be using your social network in an attempt to trick your friends into sending them money. These criminals gain control using Chat or Status features and claim that you are stuck far away and in need of financial assistance or even worse dead. Malicious software could have been downloaded to your computer or your password could have been stolen by a Facebook phishing website look alike.

   • 5

     If you suspect malicious software could have been downloaded to your computer do the following steps:
     • Never click on suspicious links: It is possible a Frenemy could have sent you spam, viruses, or malware. Do not run ".exe" files on your computer without knowing their origin.
     • Be sure you are using the most current version of your browser, which contains important security warnings and protection features.
     • Run a current version of anti-virus software. If your computer has been infected, you will need to remove the harmful programs to keep your info secure.
     • From your Facebook Account Settings page, reset your password. Always choose a different one than you use for other sites. Make up a password with a complex number string, unusual letters, or a combo of punctuation marks. It should be at least six characters long. It is not advisable to use common words from the dictionary.

Posted in: Facebook