{"id":6723,"date":"2023-09-29T12:32:57","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T12:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/?p=6723"},"modified":"2023-10-06T15:15:28","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T15:15:28","slug":"security-practices-facebook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/en\/security-practices-facebook\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Protect Your Facebook Account from Hackers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you haven&#8217;t experienced it alone, you surely know someone whose Facebook ad account got hacked. Be cautious and read before you act, especially if you receive an email requiring you to log in to the platform and take specific actions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Real cases from Accella Digital clients inspire our article, and we hope it helps improve your security and know-how on what to do in case of a potential account takeover.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One of the most common and straightforward methods for stealing personal information is through so-called\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">phishing attacks.<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Attackers usually reach out via email pretending to be a legitimate source or entity, such as a social network account executive, bank or online store owner, etc. These emails almost always follow the same structure and message: urging you to take immediate action, often requiring that you submit your personal information (email, password, bank details, login information) through an external link.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Answering their inquiry may result in losing your account access in seconds,<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0potentially damaging your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6695\" src=\"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Picture2-300x220.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"595\" height=\"436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Picture2-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Picture2.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here is what the anatomy of a phishing email may look like:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The email subject attracts attention and usually has a high open rate;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The business name is displayed, which helps make the email look legitimate;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The fonts and layouts are identical to the ones used in the original Facebook newsletters;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The email contains a compelling phrase for a required action within a fixed timeframe, thus creating a sense of urgency, which increases the chances for the user to initiate the \u201cverification\u201d process.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Always double-check the sender\u2019s email address. This is the quickest and easiest way to verify if the message is a scam. In case of doubt, we recommend sending any suspicious emails to be reviewed by your advertising agency or marketing specialist before taking further action. Often, scam emails warn you about disapproved ads or payment status issues and do not typically require you to enter your credentials or initiate any specific action.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here are a few tips on how to protect your business accounts on Facebook:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1. Review Admin Access to Your Facebook Page or Ad Account and Enable Mandatory Two-Factor Authentication<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The best way to safeguard against cyberattacks and malicious practices is to ensure you apply the highest level of security to your ad account, as well as review account access occasionally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What is Two-Factor Authentication?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an additional layer of security where a second action from the user is required to prove their identity in addition to the regular login password.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There are several options to choose from to activate your two-factor authentication:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2013 Via SMS: This is the easiest and most convenient method. When Facebook detects an attempt to log in from an unfamiliar device or browser, it sends a security code via SMS.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">-Security Key: A small hardware device which can be used to help keep your Facebook account secure. It is often used on top of other 2FA methods.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2013 Authenticator App\/Code Generator: An additional application installed on your phone that generates access codes that change every few seconds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">From the image below, you can see where to navigate in your account to\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">activate two-factor authentication.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This step is mandatory, especially when it comes down to business accounts with linked bank details. Authentication can be activated for all users in your business account.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Facebook.com\/privacy\/checkup\/<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6693\" src=\"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Picture3-300x229.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"403\" srcset=\"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Picture3-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Picture3.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Review Your Account Access<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You should occasionally review your account access, especially if you notice any unusual activity. If you see someone you may not know has administrative access to your ad account, you should take immediate action. Otherwise, there is a risk you may have your access removed and get locked out of your account.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6699\" src=\"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Picture4-300x124.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"527\" height=\"218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Picture4-300x124.png 300w, https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Picture4.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 527px) 100vw, 527px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We also advise you to keep at most 2-3 users with admin access to your ad account.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2. Phishing Emails And How to Detect Them<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Unusual Email Address<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The sender\u2019s email address contains misspellings. If you receive a message that requires your personal information or click on external links, always keep in mind to verify the sender\u2019s address.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Suspicious External Links<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you still click the external link provided in the email, it may lead you to a page where you will be asked to enter your personal information. When you examine the web address closer, you may notice any misspellings, awkward spacing and strange email layouts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Insecure HTTP Connections<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A website should always be secured with HTTP encryption when it processes sensitive information, such as personal data and passwords. However, HTTP doesn\u2019t guarantee security, as hackers sometimes may exploit it since data transmitted over it is sent in plain text and can be read by anyone with access to the network traffic, including cyber criminals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3. Reach Out to Your Advertising Agency<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you are still trying to decide whether to trust a particular email, you can always contact your digital agency to help verify its legitimacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you already provided your personal information upon the hacker\u2019s request and were locked out of your account, it is essential to react promptly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We at Accella Digital are familiar with such malicious practices and have helped our clients regain their account control.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What to Do If You\u2019ve Been Hacked:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1. Remove Account Access to People in Case of Suspicious Activity<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A swift and timely response is needed in this case. The first step is to log into your profile while you still have admin rights and remove account access for the hackers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Earlier in the article, we mentioned where to navigate in your Facebook Business Manager to locate user access. Here is how you can remove a user:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6697\" src=\"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Picture5-300x96.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"522\" height=\"167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Picture5-300x96.png 300w, https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Picture5.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 522px) 100vw, 522px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Freeze the Credit Card Used in Your Ad Account<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you\u2019ve already lost access to your ad account, what\u2019s next is to contact your bank to alert them of the breach and freeze the credit card paying for your ads. This way, even if you\u2019ve lost access to your account, you will prevent your card from getting drained of funds and the possibility of hackers running ads with stolen money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3. Disconnect Your Business Page from Your Business Manager<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Since the Business Manager is the most valuable asset for hackers, it\u2019s important to disconnect it from your Business page. This approach applies in specific cases, so we mark it as optional. First, ensure no other suspicious profiles run as admins in your account.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">4. Contact Facebook Support for Assistance<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Since Facebook support receives a high volume of inquiries daily, resolving the issue may take some time. Don\u2019t let this discourage you, as the chance to regain your account access is high.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You can contact Facebook support from here:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/business\/help\/support\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/business\/help\/support<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hacker attacks have become more advanced and skillfully crafted in recent years. However, if we regularly monitor our ad accounts and stay alert, we can save ourselves future headaches and surf the vast waves of the Internet space smoothly and peacefully.<\/span><br \/>\n[\/av_textblock]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you haven&#8217;t experienced it alone, you surely know someone whose Facebook ad account got hacked. Be cautious and read before you act, especially if you receive an email requiring you to log in to the platform and take specific actions. Real cases from Accella Digital clients inspire our article, and we hope it helps [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":6754,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[104,103],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-facebook-en","category--en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6723"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6723\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6794,"href":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6723\/revisions\/6794"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/accelladigital.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}