Facebook Password Hack: How to Recover Your Account with Trusted Contacts
Facebook Password Hack: How to Protect Your Account from Hackers
Facebook is one of the most popular and widely used social media platforms in the world, with over 2.8 billion monthly active users as of December 2020. It allows you to connect with your friends and family, share your photos and videos, join groups and communities, follow your favorite celebrities and brands, and stay updated on the latest news and trends.
Facebook Password Hack
However, with such a large user base, Facebook also attracts a lot of hackers and scammers who want to gain access to your personal information, contacts, messages, and even money. A Facebook password hack is a serious threat that can compromise your privacy, security, and reputation. In this article, we will explain what a Facebook password hack is, how it happens, how to detect it, how to recover from it, and how to prevent it in the future.
Introduction
What is a Facebook password hack and why is it dangerous?
A Facebook password hack is when someone else gets hold of your Facebook account password and logs into your account without your permission. This can happen for various reasons, such as:
The hacker guesses your password based on common or personal information.
The hacker steals your password from another website or service where you used the same or similar password.
The hacker intercepts your password when you log in to Facebook on an unsecured or public network or device.
The hacker tricks you into revealing your password through phishing or social engineering techniques.
The hacker installs malware or spyware on your device that records your keystrokes or captures your screen.
A Facebook password hack can have serious consequences for you and your contacts, such as:
The hacker can access your personal information, such as your name, email address, phone number, date of birth, location, etc.
The hacker can view and download your photos and videos, including those that are private or hidden.
The hacker can read and send messages from your account, impersonating you or spreading malicious links or attachments.
The hacker can post or delete content on your timeline or other pages, damaging your reputation or violating Facebook's policies.
The hacker can change your account settings, such as your password, email address, phone number, security questions, etc., making it harder for you to regain control of your account.
The hacker can use your account to spam or scam your friends and family, asking for money or personal information.
The hacker can access other websites or services that are linked to your Facebook account, such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Spotify, Netflix, etc.
How do hackers get your Facebook password?
There are many ways that hackers can get your Facebook password, but some of the most common ones are:
Password guessing: This is when the hacker tries to guess your password based on common or personal information that they know or find out about you. For example, they may use your name, birthdate, pet's name, favorite color, etc., or combinations of these. They may also use common passwords that many people use, such as "123456", "password", "qwerty", etc.
Password reuse: This is when the hacker steals your password from another website or service where you used the same or similar password. For example, if you use the same password for your email account and your Facebook account, and your email account gets hacked, the hacker can use your email password to log into your Facebook account. This is why you should never use the same password for different accounts.
Password interception: This is when the hacker intercepts your password when you log in to Facebook on an unsecured or public network or device. For example, if you use a public Wi-Fi network or a shared computer to access Facebook, the hacker can use a software or device to capture your password as it travels through the network or is stored on the device. This is why you should always use a secure and private network and device to access Facebook.
Password phishing: This is when the hacker tricks you into revealing your password through phishing or social engineering techniques. For example, the hacker may send you an email or a message that looks like it comes from Facebook, asking you to verify your account or reset your password by clicking on a link or opening an attachment. The link or attachment may take you to a fake website that looks like Facebook, where you are asked to enter your password. The hacker then collects your password and uses it to log into your account. This is why you should always be careful about opening links or attachments from unknown or suspicious sources, and always check the URL and the sender of any message that claims to be from Facebook.
Password malware: This is when the hacker installs malware or spyware on your device that records your keystrokes or captures your screen. For example, the hacker may infect your device with a virus, a worm, a trojan, a keylogger, a screen recorder, etc., that runs in the background and monitors your activity. The hacker then retrieves your password from the malware or spyware and uses it to log into your account. This is why you should always keep your device updated and protected with antivirus and firewall software, and avoid downloading or installing anything from untrusted sources.
How to tell if your Facebook account has been hacked
Some signs that may indicate that your Facebook account has been hacked are:
You notice unusual activity on your account, such as posts, comments, likes, messages, friend requests, etc., that you did not make or authorize.
You receive notifications or emails from Facebook about changes to your account settings, such as your password, email address, phone number, security questions, etc., that you did not make or authorize.
You are unable to log into your account with your usual password, or you are logged out of your account unexpectedly.
You see login attempts from unfamiliar locations or devices on your security and login page.
Your friends and family tell you that they received spam or scam messages from your account, asking for money or personal information.
Your account is disabled or locked by Facebook for violating its policies.
If you notice any of these signs, you should act quickly to secure your account and prevent further damage.
How to recover your Facebook password if you've been hacked
If you think that your Facebook password has been hacked, you should try to recover it as soon as possible. There are several ways to do this, depending on whether you still have access to your account or not.
Use the "Forgot password?" option
If you still have access to your account, but you want to change your password to prevent future hacks, you can use the "Forgot password?" option on the login page. This will allow you to reset your password using one of the following methods:
Your email address: You will receive a link to reset your password in your email inbox.
Your phone number: You will receive a code to reset your password via SMS.
Your Google account: You will be redirected to Google to sign in and reset your password.
If you don't have access to any of these methods, you can try using another one that you have added to your account previously, such as another email address or phone number.
Use the Trusted Contacts feature
If you don't have access to any of the methods mentioned above, but you have set up Trusted Contacts on your account before, you can use this feature to recover your password. Trusted Contacts are friends that you have chosen to help you if you ever have trouble logging into your account. To use this feature, you need to follow these steps:
Go to the login page and click on "Forgot password?"
Enter your email address, phone number, username, or full name and click on "Search".
Click on "No longer have access to these?"
Enter a new email address or phone number that you can access and click on "Continue".
Click on "Reveal My Trusted Contacts" and type the full name of one of your trusted contacts.
You will see a set of instructions that include a special link. The link contains a recovery code that only your trusted contacts can access.
Send the link to your trusted contacts and ask them to open it and give you the recovery code.
Enter the recovery codes from your trusted contacts and click on "Continue".
You will be able to create a new password for your account.
If you don't have any trusted contacts, or you can't reach them, you can try contacting Facebook support instead.
Contact Facebook support
If none of the methods above work for you, or you think that your account has been disabled or locked by Facebook, you can contact Facebook support to request help. You can do this by filling out this form: https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/357439354283890. You will need to provide the following information:
Your email address or phone number that is associated with your account.
Your name as it appears on your account.
A brief description of the issue and how it happened.
A copy of your ID (such as your driver's license, passport, or birth certificate) to verify your identity.
Facebook will review your request and get back to you with a solution. This may take some time, depending on the complexity of the issue and the volume of requests they receive.
How to prevent Facebook password hacks in the future
Once you have recovered your Facebook password and regained control of your account, you should take some steps to prevent future hacks and secure your account. Here are some tips to follow:
Create a strong and unique password
Your password is the first line of defense against hackers, so you should make sure that it is strong and unique. A strong password is one that is:
At least 8 characters long (the longer, the better).
A mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Not based on common or personal information, such as your name, birthdate, pet's name, favorite color, etc.
Not a word or phrase that can be found in a dictionary or online.
Not the same or similar to any of your other passwords.
You can use a password generator tool to create a random and secure password for your account. You can also use a password manager tool to store and manage your passwords safely. You should also change your password regularly, at least every 6 months, and never share it with anyone else.
Enable two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication is a security feature that adds an extra layer of protection to your account. It requires you to enter a code that is sent to your phone or email address every time you log in from a new device or browser. This way, even if someone gets hold of your password, they won't be able to access your account without the code. To enable two-factor authentication on your account, you need to follow these steps:
Go to your settings and click on "Security and login".
Under "Two-factor authentication", click on "Use two-factor authentication".
Choose the method you want to use to receive the code: text message (SMS) or authentication app (such as Google Authenticator or Duo Mobile).
Follow the instructions to set up the method and confirm it.
You will see a list of devices and browsers that are recognized by Facebook. You can choose whether to require a code for these devices and browsers or not.
You can also add backup methods in case you lose access to your primary method. These include recovery codes, trusted contacts, or a security key.
You should always keep your phone number and email address updated on your account, so that you can receive the codes when needed.
Use login alerts and notifications
Login alerts and notifications are features that help you monitor and manage your login activity on your account. They notify you when someone logs into your account from a new device or browser, or when someone tries to log in with your password but fails. You can also see a list of devices and browsers that are currently logged into your account, and log out of any that you don't recognize or trust. To use these features, you need to follow these steps:
Go to your settings and click on "Security and login".
Under "Setting up extra security", click on "Get alerts about unrecognized logins".
Choose how you want to receive the alerts: email, text message (SMS), or notification.
Click on "Save changes".
Under "Where you're logged in", you will see a list of devices and browsers that are logged into your account. You can click on the three dots next to each one to see more details, such as the location, time, and type of device or browser.
If you see any device or browser that you don't recognize or trust, you can click on "Log out" to end the session. You can also click on "Log out of all sessions" to log out of all devices and browsers at once.
You should always review your login activity regularly, and report any suspicious or unauthorized logins to Facebook.
Review your security settings and activity regularly
Another way to prevent Facebook password hacks in the future is to review your security settings and activity regularly, and make sure that they are up to date and accurate. You can do this by going to your settings and clicking on "Security and login". Here are some things that you should check and update:
Your password: You should change your password regularly, at least every 6 months, and make sure that it is strong and unique.
Your email address and phone number: You should make sure that they are current and valid, and that you have access to them. You should also add more than one email address or phone number to your account, in case you lose access to one of them.
Your trusted contacts: You should add at least three trusted contacts to your account, who can help you if you ever have trouble logging in. You should also make sure that they are people that you know well and trust.
Your security questions: You should choose security questions that are easy for you to remember, but hard for others to guess. You should also avoid using common or personal information as answers.
Your login alerts and notifications: You should enable login alerts and notifications for your account, and choose how you want to receive them.
Your two-factor authentication: You should enable two-factor authentication for your account, and choose the method that works best for you.
Your authorized logins: You should review the list of devices and browsers that are logged into your account, and log out of any that you don't recognize or trust.
Your connected apps and websites: You should review the list of apps and websites that are linked to your Facebook account, and remove any that you don't use or trust.
You should also check your privacy settings and activity regularly, and make sure that they are set according to your preferences. You can do this by going to your settings and clicking on "Privacy" and "Your Facebook information". Here are some things that you should check and update:
Your privacy settings: You should choose who can see your posts, profile information, friends list, etc., and who can contact you or find you on Facebook.
Your activity log: You should review your activity log, which shows everything that you've done on Facebook, such as posts, comments, likes, messages, etc., and delete or hide anything that you don't want others to see.
Your timeline review: You should review your timeline review, which shows posts that you're tagged in by others before they appear on your timeline, and approve or reject them.
Your tag review: You should review your tag review, which shows tags that others add to your posts before they appear on Facebook, and approve or reject them.
Your profile review: You should review your profile review, which shows changes that others make to sections of your profile before they appear on Facebook, and approve or reject them.
Your download your information: You should download a copy of your information from Facebook, which includes everything that you've shared or received on Facebook, such as posts, photos, videos, messages, etc., and store it safely.
Your delete your account: You should delete your account from Facebook if you no longer want to use it or if you think that it has been compromised beyond recovery. This will permanently delete all your information from Facebook, and you won't be able to recover it or reactivate your account.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In conclusion, a Facebook password hack is a serious threat that can compromise your privacy, security, and reputation. It can happen for various reasons, such as password guessing, password reuse, password interception, password phishing, or password malware. It can have serious consequences for you and your contacts, such as identity theft, data breach, spamming, scamming, or account suspension. To recover your Facebook password if you've been hacked, you can use the "Forgot password?" option, the Trusted Contacts feature, or contact Facebook support. To prevent Facebook password hacks in the future, you should create a strong and unique password, enable two-factor authentication, use login alerts and notifications, review your security settings and activity regularly, and avoid phishing and malware attacks. You should also check your privacy settings and activity regularly, and make sure that they are set according to your preferences. You should also download a copy of your information from Facebook, and delete your account if you no longer want to use it or if you think that it has been compromised beyond recovery.
Call to action and recommendations
We hope that this article has helped you understand what a Facebook password hack is, how it happens, how to detect it, how to recover from it, and how to prevent it in the future. We recommend that you follow the tips and steps that we have provided to secure your account and protect your information. If you have any questions or concerns about your account or this topic, please feel free to contact us or visit the Facebook Help Center for more information. Remember, your Facebook account is yours and yours alone, so don't let anyone else take it away from you.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Facebook password hacks:
How can I tell if my Facebook password has been hacked?
Some signs that may indicate that your Facebook password has been hacked are: unusual activity on your account, notifications or emails from Facebook about changes to your account settings, inability to log into your account with your usual password, login attempts from unfamiliar locations or devices on your security and login pag