The first thing to do if you believe your Facebook account has been compromised is to change your password. If you use Facebook as a login to applications such as Spotify or Instagram then change the logins. This will prevent the hacker from accessing the third-party apps through your compromised Facebook profile.
A compromised Facebook account can offer hackers access to a wealth of personal information. Hackers could utilize this information for fraudulent reasons, like taking credit card numbers and sending people fake credit card offers or scams using phishing. Hackers can also use hacked accounts to send out spam messages or post on your timeline (as in the event that it was you who was responsible).
One of the most frequent methods hackers gain access to an account is to exploit a flaw in Facebook’s app code. For instance, a vulnerability in the iOS Facebook application allowed hackers to hack cookies and take the iPhone user’s “access token.” These tokens are digital keys that allow them full control of the user’s Facebook account — and thanks to Single Sign-On, all other websites that the user is logged into using their Facebook credentials.
Hackers may also gain access to accounts through brute-force attacks. This technique involves virtual data room for business guessing the password, usually the most popular ones such as 123456789 or 1234567890. Also, hackers may gain access to an account by sifting through compromised credentials. There are a variety of free tools that can be used to search for stolen information, including a popular website called HaveIBeenPwned.
