Have Any of You Been "Hacked" on Facebook?

Updated on July 25, 2011
A.S. asks from Canton, OH
11 answers

My FB account was hacked last week by someone in New Jersey and Arizona. (I live in Ohio) I find it creepy. I'm sure it was nothing but I changed my profile pic to butterflies. I was asked a few questions and had to make a new password. I've been on FB over 2yrs and it does make me feel a little uneasy b/c you don't know who can actually look at your pics/etc. At the same time it's also nice to keep up with family out of state. (and yes, it can be addicting! lol) Anyway, I think I'm going to remove my account soon. I'm not even sure how to do that. Do you go to "your account" and then "log out"? Also someone told me even if you remove yourself it automatically renews your account in 4 months. Is that true? Just curious... Thanks in advance!

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J.G.

answers from San Antonio on

this is why i don't do FB. I spend my time on emails (for sharing pics with family and what-not) and on mamapedia (to get my computer/chat/social 'fix')

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J.B.

answers from Dallas on

Before you close you account, make sure you have your privacy setting set as high as possible on your FB account. And then check them every few months. I have found that a lot of the time when FB "updates" things, they add new features or whatever, which requires me to adjust my settings. But if you are still uncomfortable, then you don't just log out, you need to deactivate your account. To do that you go to the top right corner and click on account. That will give you a drop down menu and from there select account settings. The option to deactivate is at the very bottom of the list.

My account was hacked once. I just changed my password, and made my profile completely private, well, at least as private as possible, and I haven't had any problems since. I don't have my address, my phone number, or any identifying information about me on there. I don't buy any of the facebook credits so they don't have my bank info. So I don't worry about someone hunting me down and taking over my life. Plus, I have found hackers on FB to not be very good at covering their tracks, so it is pretty obvious when it happens, and you can quickly and easily fix the problem by changing your password.

Just be careful what you click on when you look at other peoples profiles. A LOT of the so called videos that are posting on profiles are not really a video but are a hack or a virus. I do not click on ANYTHING on anyone's profile unless I am positive that person actually posted it.

4 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Did you get hacked or did someone try to hack it? A website I was on was hacked and they got our email addresses and passwords for that site. They tried to use my email address and password from that site to access my Facebook. Because of this Facebook's security kicked in and I had to answer questions and change my password. I was never hacked, sounds like you weren't either.

Anyone with your email address can try to hack your account and it will do that. They don't even have to have any computer knowledge. Heck if you try to log in and use the wrong password it can do it.

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N.A.

answers from Chicago on

You can de-activate your account and re-activate it whenever you want. I have done it several time's only because people on my friend's list were getting angry at me for not being able to answer them right away. NO, once YOU de-activate your account it will NOT re-activate on it's own unless YOU re-activate it.
I have never been "hacked" but have heard of it happening, do you play alot of game's? Do you join any other group's? Or have you accepted any requests other then friends? I know that if you click on links that your not familiar with that that can be a hack or some sort of virus. Always change your password every once in awhile and make sure its a long password. And in order to de-activate your account you would go to the upper right corner of your FB page and click on "account" then click on "account settings" then you would scroll down and it will say "de-activate account". Always when dealing with anything online you really aren't as safe as you may think....Good Luck and hope I was helpful!

2 moms found this helpful

S.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I haven't been hacked. But I know people that have been. I am not sure, but it may be because of games. Do you play the games on there? I don't play games.

I had to unfriend someone this week because I turned it on and right there in my home page was a picture of a man and woman in a compromising position with tons of skin showing. I was almost sick. I figure it's easier to block her than to risk her getting another virus and maybe my kids seeing something like that.

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I have not been hacked but I know some people who have been. I have my FB on the highest security, ALWAYS sign on and log off.

I have noticed in the past, while I am browsing FB, a popup comes on and wants my password again. I NEVER do that. I logoff and then log back on a little later.

Also, never click on any links, viruses are everywhere in the links. I only accept friends that I KNOW and no one I have never heard of.

Hope this helps.

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C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

No, I've not been hacked on Facebook - but on ebay...4 years ago...

No, your facebook account CANNOT be automatically renewed...you have to activate yourself.

With facebook - it doesn't matter what you set your settings to - someone will always find a way to get around the protocols....so even those who believe they are safe - aren't....

So how do you protect yourself? Make sure you don't have ANY of your information on your wall....if you want to say you live Canton, OH - fine...but the more information you put out there - the easier it will be to be hacked...

Like those "surveys" that come around and ask seemingly innocuous questions - like your first car, first love, etc....those are usually the same security answers to your password...

DO NOT put your birth year on your wall.
Ensure that "ONLY FRIENDS" can see your posts...but again - it goes back to knowing who you have as friends on FB....your post may be seen only by friends - however, it might show up on my wall "A. commented..." just like that...

DO NOT click on ANY Links - if someone pulls up a chat and says "what were you doing in this video?" I don't care if it was your dad chatting with you - do NOT click on it...if something sounds too good to be true- it usually is...

If you play games - Mafia Wars, Farmville, etc. then you need to make sure you are changing your password regularly!!

GOOD LUCK!

1 mom found this helpful

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

A friend of mine was hacked and she finally had to resign her account and create a new one.

If you go into "Account Settings" there is a choice at the bottom of the page to "DeActivate" your account.

I do sign out, but I would not be detered. Just deactivate and start a new FB. It's too much fun to give up. Just be sure ALL privacy settings are in place and create a password that isn't too easy. For example, don't use a part of your name or your kids names, etc.... Use numbers and letters intermittently.

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T.O.

answers from San Francisco on

try Google + I heard it's the new FB

C.A.

answers from New York on

I have my settings set as friends only and I still get hacked. So every month I change my password and haven't had any problems since. It is a pain but I really do enjoy fb. You should always log out of your account everytime that you get off. Otherwise you are consistantly logged on. If you change your settings to friends only, then when ppl check you out they can't see much unless they add you as a friend and you confirm it. If you really enjoy being on FB then just change your password once a month and you won't have any problems.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

If you truly want to leave FB then go to the account link onthe top right and click one of the lines below. I can't remember if it is security or account info. On the bottom line it has deactivate the account.

But truly if you have your privacy setting to only friends it really is hard for someone to hack you. I check each few months and make sure I have all those settings at the level I want. i have myself hidden from being searched. I have my photo albums and stuff set for friends only, I have my posts set to friends only too.

Clicking on the fake links that are going around are one of the main reasons people get hacked. One that is getting friends is the "spider under a woman's skin". Did they not see all the notices from FB to not click on those links??? So many of those links are tempting and they reword them so that others will think you liked the link and want them to click too. Just don't ever click on those. The games are pretty safe, I have only got one virus in 3 years and not been really hacked except for those posts that say you liked them and to click on them.

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