Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the FBI found a 300% increase in reported cybercrimes. Hackers search for easy high-profile accounts to hack, but anyone is at risk of a cyber threat.

If you are a victim of a hacked social media account, immediate action is necessary to keep up your reputation. Read on to learn what to do if this happens to you.

Run a Virus Check

You may be wondering, “how do I know my social media account has been hacked?” If you have malware on your device, you have probably been hacked.

You can check if a hacker injected malware on your device by running a virus scan.

If you find any malware remove it immediately to ensure the hacker doesn’t have access to your accounts any longer. Double-check that the malware is gone by restarting and rescanning your device.

Increase Account Security

If you don’t have malware on your device or have already successfully removed it, the next step is to change the password on the compromised social media account.

If you have the same username/password on additional accounts, change those too. Your newest password should be nothing like the old one. The key to creating a strong password is using lowercase and uppercase letters along with numbers and symbols.

You can go a step further with increasing the security of your account by enabling two-step verification. By implementing this process, you’ll receive a code when your account settings have been changed.

Use a VPN Connection

Almost all cybersecurity experts agree that one of the surest ways to boost online safety is to use the best vpn for chrome. Securing your internet connection should be a top priority every time you are browsing the internet. Make sure that you never use a Public Wi-Fi connection for accessing sensitive or personal data.

If you are a victim of a hacked social media account, a hacker may be spying on your activity through a public internet connection. Whenever using public Wi-Fi, install and use a VPN on your device.

VPN, a virtual private network, acts as a safe tunnel between the sites you visit and your device. Your browsing history becomes private and hackers won’t be able to spy on it using a third party.

Notify Friends and Family

If you’ve been hacked on social media, you should let your friends and family know in case they get odd messages. They should avoid any suspicious messages and not click on them.

Hackers may use your profile to ask your contacts for money. After warning them, take down posts and delete messages the hacker created.

Check Your Email Settings

Many hackers go through your email account to gain control of your social media. Check your email settings to see if anything has changed.

Stay Up to Date on Social Media

You should always stay up to date on the latest social media hacks and trends to ensure your profiles stay safe. A hacker can negatively impact engagement for businesses and personal brands.

Are You the Victim of a Hacked Social Media Account?

It may not be apparent right away that you are the victim of a hacked social media account. You should regularly run a virus check on your devices and use strong passwords to avoid any issues.

Knowing what to do if your social media account has been hacked is essential for every social media user to learn. Keep these tips in mind if you are suspicious of a hacker.

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