How to Recover a Hacked Facebook Account

How to Recover a Hacked Facebook Account

Prerequisites:

• Access to a computer or smartphone
• Internet connection
• Email address or phone number associated with your Facebook account
• Government-issued ID (if required)

Time to complete: 30-60 minutes

Tools needed: Web browser or Facebook mobile app

Steps:

Step 1: Identify the Compromise

1. Check for Suspicious Activity: Log in to your Facebook account and look for any unusual activity, such as posts you didn’t create, messages you didn’t send, or changes to your profile.
2. Verify with Friends: Ask friends if they’ve received messages or posts from your account that you didn’t send.

Step 2: Recover Your Facebook Account

1. Visit Facebook’s Hacked Account Page: Go to Facebook’s hacked account page.
2. Click on “My Account Is Compromised”: Follow the prompts to enter the email address or phone number associated with your account, then click “Search”.
3. Enter Most Recent Password: If prompted, enter your most recent password and click “Continue”.
4. Follow On-Screen Instructions: This may include changing your password, reviewing recent login activity, and removing suspicious apps or browser extensions.
5. Reset Password if Needed: If you can’t log in, click “Forgotten password?” on the login page. Enter your email or phone number and follow the prompts to reset your password.
6. Account Recovery Options: If you can’t access the email or phone number on file, click “No longer have access to these?” and enter a new email address or phone number for account recovery. You may need to upload a copy of your government-issued ID for verification.
7. Wait for Facebook’s Response: Facebook will review your case and send further instructions to your new contact information.
8. Report Profile as Compromised (if needed): Ask a friend to visit your profile, click the three dots (…) next to your name, select “Find Support or Report Profile”, choose “Something Else” then “Recover this account”.

Step 3: Secure Your Facebook Account

1. Change Password: Once access is regained, immediately change your password.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Go to Settings > Security and Login > Use two-factor authentication.
3. Review Security Settings: Check login locations, devices, and app permissions. Remove any unfamiliar devices or apps.
4. Monitor for Unauthorized Changes: Regularly review your profile for any unauthorized changes.

Step 4: Secure All Your Accounts with a Password Manager

1. Choose a Password Manager: Use a trusted password manager like 1Password, LastPass, or Dashlane.
2. Set Up the Password Manager: Create an account and follow the setup instructions to install the password manager on your devices.
3. Generate Unique Passwords: Use the password manager to generate and store unique, strong passwords for each of your accounts.
4. Update Your Credentials: For each online account (email, social media, banking, etc.), update your passwords using the password manager.
5. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Where possible, enable two-factor authentication for an added layer of security.
6. Regularly Update Passwords: Periodically update your passwords and review your password manager for any security alerts.
7. Backup Your Passwords: Ensure you have a secure backup of your password manager’s vault.

Conclusion

Recovering a hacked Facebook account requires prompt action and careful steps to regain control. Once recovered, securing all your accounts with a password manager helps prevent future compromises by ensuring each account has a unique and strong password.

Sources:

• How to recover your Facebook account – YouTube
• HACKED ACCOUNT RECOVERY PROCESS: r/facebook – Reddit
• How to recover a hacked Facebook account – hacked.com
• How to Recover a Facebook Account | PCMag
• How to recover a hacked Facebook account | Fox News