Yes, social media hacking is a thing and social media accounts are actually becoming very common targets. Do you know why? Social media is an unparalleled way to connect with your friends, family and colleagues and hackers think so too!
It is important to protect yourself against cyber criminals who attempt to take over your social media account to use your name and good reputation to steal from people. Aside from your online network potentially falling victim to these online scams and being robbed of their hard-earned money, they may actually believe you were the one who did it! Imagine a GoFundMe page set up to help you with cancer treatments you don’t need or an online sale which prompts people to show up at your door looking for their “purchases” or money back! So much for that stellar reputation.
So how can you protect your information and online connections from social media hackers?
- Use a strong password;
- Don’t share or reuse passwords;
- Enable two-factor authentication, such as a code which is sent to your phone or email, for an added layer of security;
- Beware of third-party apps. You could become vulnerable if you don’t stick to apps you know and trust;
- Check URLs on links;
- And obviously don’t share your email address, phone number or any other personal information with strangers on the internet.
- The latest and greatest up-to-date anti-virus software can help too.