Learn How Hackers Can Hack Your Facebook Account and How to Fix It

Facebook accounts are prime targets for cybercriminals. Unfortunately, there are heaps of ways a Facebook account can be hacked.

However, many of these threats can be mitigated by understanding the tactics and methodologies hackers use to steal your Facebook credentials and, ultimately, your personal data.

So, here are the most popular methods used to hack your Facebook account.

Data Breach/Leaks

Data breaches occur when hackers obtain large amounts of user data from online services like Facebook. The information from these leaks can range from harmless statistical data to complete user exposure, where email addresses, phone numbers, and passwords are leaked online.

Facebook, in particular, has had several data breaches throughout the years. Based on a report from NordVPN, here is a table that summarizes Facebook credential breaches from 2018 to 2024:

Hackers with the files from these leaks often sell them online or share them publicly on paste sites and online forums. Occasionally, information shared on the leak is displayed in plain text, allowing hackers direct access to a person’s account.

However, these events are extremely rare. Although these leaks share plain text information such as username, email, and phone number, passwords are likely encrypted through hashing and salting methods, stopping a hacker from logging into an account.

In these cases, hackers try decrypting these encrypted passwords through brute force methods.

Brute Force Attacks

A brute force attack is a method hackers use to gain unauthorized access to an account by trying every possible password or key until the correct one is found. The attacker uses automated tools to try all potential combinations, starting from simple guesses to more complex ones, until they succeed in breaking in.

Although brute-forcing Facebook login is no longer possible due to the limited tries you’re given before a timeout (rate limiting), hackers can still use the same brute-force concept to decrypt your hashed (encrypted) password they got from a data breach.

A hash is a non-reversible type of encryption, meaning you can’t simply use the hash to reveal the password in plain text. However, hackers can generate a list of possible passwords, hash them using the same encryption algorithm Facebook uses, and compare these hashes to the one they stole. If they find a match, the hacker now has your password and can attempt to log in to your account.

The leak doesn’t even need to be from Facebook. Hackers can still take advantage of data breaches from other online platforms and still log in to your Facebook account through credential stuffing.

Credential Stuffing

If you have more than a dozen online accounts, there's a good chance you've reused the same password on some of them. Hackers can exploit this habit of reusing passwords through a technique called credential stuffing.

Credential stuffing is a simple yet highly effective way to hack into accounts like Facebook. When a hacker gets hold of your password from one of your online accounts, they try to use that same password on popular sites like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Credential stuffing can be automated, allowing hackers to quickly test your known password against a list of potential usernames across different platforms. If you’ve signed up for any other accounts with the same password, the hacker might gain access to them as well.

So, be careful when reusing passwords on any online service you’ve signed up with. Data breaches happen all the time, and if you keep reusing your password, it may only be a matter of time before hackers get hold of them from a data breach.

Keyloggers

Another simple yet effective way to steal your Facebook credentials is through keyloggers. Keyloggers are tools used to log or capture all your keystrokes and save them to a file which is then sent or collected by the hacker. Since all your keystrokes are being logged, keyloggers capture login credentials such as usernames and passwords and your messages, online search, and documents you’ve written.

Skilled hackers can install a keylogger program on your devices wirelessly, while less skilled hackers will have to rely on manually installing the program or hardware by physically accessing your device.

Man in the Middle Attacks (MITM)

In a Man in the Middle (MITM) attack, hackers intercept the communication between your device and Facebook’s servers. They can steal login credentials or inject malicious code without you noticing.

A popular MITM attack is phishing. Phishing involves tricking users into providing their credentials on a fake website that looks identical to Facebook. Users are often rerouted to these fake websites by clicking on links inserted in messages, emails, fake download buttons, and pop-ups.

Backdoors and Rootkits

Backdoors and rootkits are types of malware that provide hackers with persistent, covert access to your device. Once these malicious tools are installed, attackers can remotely control your device, enabling them to perform various harmful activities such as installing additional malware (e.g., keyloggers), exfiltrating personal data, and stealing sensitive information like login credentials stored on your device.

Hackers embed a backdoor program into legitimate software or files. These compromised files are then distributed through various channels, such as sketchy websites, file-sharing torrents, or even seemingly legitimate email attachments and software updates. When unsuspecting users download and install these files, the backdoor is activated, granting the attacker ongoing access to the system without the user’s knowledge.

How to Protect Your Facebook Account

To keep your Facebook account safe, it’s important to realize that most hacks happen because of how we handle our online security and not because of weak Facebook security. Simple mistakes like using weak passwords or being careless online can make it easy for hackers to access your account. To safeguard your Facebook account from getting hacked, here are a few steps you can follow:

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adds an extra layer of security by requiring a code sent to your phone in addition to your password.
• Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Avoid using the same password across multiple sites. If you have too many accounts to remember login credentials, you can always use a password manager or save your password on a physical security key such as a YubiKey, alternatively you could also make your own security key using a cheap Digispark.
• Regularly Update Your Software: Keeping your system and apps updated can prevent exploits from outdated software.
• Check For Data Breaches: Visit Have I Been Pwned and check your accounts. If any of the services you use have breached data, immediately change your passwords.
• Be Wary of Suspicious Links: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
• Monitor Your Account Activity: Regularly check for unfamiliar logins or changes to your account settings.
• Follow Security Warnings Immediately: If you receive a notification about a new device logging into your account, it's crucial to act immediately. Review your activity history, change your password, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), and follow any other recommended security steps to ensure your account remains secure.

By understanding these hacking techniques and implementing strong security practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of your Facebook account being compromised.