"You won't believe what people are saying about you <link>"
"I recommend this resource for you <link>"
"Hey, check this out <link>"
And that was just what arrived overnight. Every day, thousands of Twitter accounts are hacked. Maybe it has happened to you: all of a sudden your Twitter account starts sending out direct messages and tweets that you never intended. Nasty links. Virus-laden links. And the same thing can happen on Facebook.
If you have been hacked, there are some simple steps you can take to get your account back under control.
Step 1: Remove the authorization of applications you don't recognize.
In the course of browsing the web, we give permission for websites and applications permission to access our social media. Too often, we don't think about it. Some of them are trustworthy. Many are not. Many others start out as trustworthy and wind up being bought or taken over by less trustworthy operators.
- Click on the gear box on the home page (top right)
- Go to "Settings"
- In the left-hand column, click on "Applications"
- Go down the list, clicking on "Revoke Access" on any application you aren't 100% sure of.
On Facebook:
- Click on the gear box on the home page (top right)
- Go to "Privacy Settings"
- In the left-hand column, click on "Apps"
- Go down the list, clicking on the "x" on the right hand side to remove any application you aren't 100% sure of.
Step 2: Change your password.
In the course of being hacked, your password may have been compromised. Better safe than sorry.
On Twitter:
- Click on the gear box on the home page (top right)
- Go to "Settings"
- In the left-hand column, click on "Password" and change your password
On Facebook:
- Click on the gear box on the home page (top right)
- Got to "Account Settings"
- On the next page (under the "General Settings" tab) click on "Password" to change your password.
