Facebook, Twitter or Instagram hacked? How to Recover from a Social Media Hack and Protect Your Business' Online Presence

Almost 2 million social media accounts are hacked every day

Help for hacked Instagram, hacked Facebook accounts or hacked LinkedIn searches online are becoming more and more popular every year. Even messaging services like WhatsApp, Snapchat and Facebook Messenger can be hacked, resulting in an increasing demand for services that improve account security.

My social media has been hacked!

With almost everyone on the planet having at least one social media account, millions of people are #hacked every day. While someone else posting on your personal account is annoying and a huge breach of your privacy, you can normally afford to wait until your account is recovered or just make a new one!

Businesses cannot afford that luxury. Many companies rely on their social media accounts for client leads, bookings or as direct links to online stores that can make hacks a money pit. For instance in 2021, around £4m was lost by small business due to unsecured accounts.

And if losing money every day you wait for Facebook or Instagram to recover your account wasn't bad enough, you could also see massive reputational damage to your company, the loss of client trust or even fines if the hack results in a breach of #GDPR or data protection laws.

If you can prove you're the rightful owner, it typically takes 1-2 weeks for a social media platform to recover an account

How can I secure my accounts?

If your account has been hacked, the passwords have likely been changed by the hacker which means you'll have to wait for your account to be recovered. But it's worth trying your old password just in case.

Assuming you password has been changed, you'll need to report this to the social media site as soon as possible. They'll need proof that you're the rightful owner, which usually means providing photo ID or answers to security questions.

The main priority here is to change the password of the email address associated with your account immediately. If you use the same password for multiple accounts, change them all to prevent the hacker gaining access to multiple accounts and causing more damage to your business.

One fifth of people in the UK use the same password for multiple accounts, and nearly 50% use a weak password.

How do I prevent a hack?

We manage all security for Rubics customers and are the ones responsible if things go wrong. We use secure password managers and the latest cybersecurity software for client accounts. Our databases have three layers of protection and are only accessible to your specific account manager.

Here are some other ways we protect your account:

Use varied strong passwords. We use very strong passwords for all client accounts that are very difficult to remember and different for each account. They're not based on any personal details either, so hackers find them hard to guess or brute force. These are stored on secure password managers that only your account manager can access.

Enable two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication is a process where you will need to provide two passwords or pins in order to log-in to one of your accounts, which improves security as a potential hacker will need a phone number or a second email address to access your account. At Rubics, we use authentication applications for additional security.

Use training to limit human error. Many hacks are a result of human error - either from clicking on the wrong link or falling for a phishing scam. All our employees receive training on information governance and #cybersecurity, that makes them more alert to the increasingly personalised ways hackers try to steal our information.

Monitor access and devices. We monitor who has access to our accounts which limits the likelihood of a breach. We also regularly update our devices and scan them for #malware, which reduces the possible vulnerabilities hackers use to exploit your security.

Get in touch for a consultation

Have you considered having someone else manage your social media for you? Contact sales@rubics.co.uk for peace of mind on all aspects of your social media today.