Steps to follow if they have entered an account
This is something that could happen in any service that we have on the Internet. It can affect social networks such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, but also email or even any platform where we have a subscription.
Cybercriminals can sometimes even use our account as a bridge to attack third parties. That is why it is essential to detect the problem as soon as possible and act to prevent it from affecting others.
Change password immediately
Without a doubt, the first thing we have to do as soon as we detect that someone has been able to enter our account is change Password. This is essential. An intruder has been able to gain access after stealing the key, but also if it has been leaked through some vulnerability.
Therefore, as soon as we detect that they have been able to access our email or social network account, we must change the password we have. This will help prevent that intruder from re-accessing and give us time to see where the problem has been.
Enable two-step authentication
Also, whenever possible, we must activate the two-step authentication. It is true that not all platforms have this option, although it is increasingly available. We must enable this feature that will create an extra security barrier.
It is something that we should have done before, but if we did not have it configured, it is a good time to do it as soon as we suspect that someone has been able to access. This will provide that extra security that will come in handy.
See if any linked accounts have been affected
It is common that we have certain linked services to an account. For example, we can link to Facebook other platforms or to our email. In the event of a security breach, that someone has been able to access the account, it will be essential to check that it has not affected others.
Check the equipment to find the problem
One of the causes that intruders may have entered our account is that we have some type of malware on the system or there is some vulnerability. Therefore, something we must do is check the equipment to see what the problem could be and that it does not happen again.
If, for example, it is a keylogger that has been sneaked into us, in case we change the password it would be a short-term solution but as soon as we log back in, it could be stolen again. Hence the importance of seeing the reason for this problem.
Check if the account has been used to attack third parties
Have you been able to use our account to attack To thirds? One of the hackers’ strategies is to reach out to other victims through their contacts. For example, through social networks such as Facebook, they could send messages to others with fraudulent links. If they get that message from a contact they trust, they would be more likely to click.
We must also verify this in the email account. We can see if we have sent e-mails without our knowing it. This will help to cut the spread of new attacks that affect third parties as soon as possible.
Tips to prevent them from entering accounts
We have seen some fundamental steps that we must take if we have been the victims of an attack on social networks or email. Some points to keep in mind to reduce the problem. Now we are going to give some recommendations to avoid getting here.
Always protect the equipment
A basic pillar to maintain security and avoid any type of problem is protect equipment. We must have programs such as an antivirus or firewall. This will help prevent the entry of malware, such as a keylogger, which could be used to steal passwords and enter our accounts.
Luckily we can have multiple tools, both free and paid, for all types of devices. It does not matter if we are using a mobile phone or a computer; We must always preserve safety and reduce the risk of problems.
Use strong keys
Another very important question to avoid account theft is to use keys make them really strong. We should never use simple, basic passwords, such as using our data or anything that relates to us.
A good password should always contain letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and other special symbols. All of this must always be random and we should not use it anywhere else. If we use the password in several places at the same time, if an account is stolen, what is known as a domino effect could occur and affect others.
Use only official apps
We must not forget the importance of always using official tools. We should never use third-party programs, or download from unreliable sources. Otherwise we could be installing software that could have been maliciously modified by third parties.
It is true that sometimes we can find the possibility of installing a program that offers something different, some new feature, but without a doubt it could be a significant security problem.
Keep common sense
One more question, and perhaps one of the most important, is the common sense. We must avoid any type of error, such as opening a dangerous link that reaches us by email or logging in to insecure public Wi-Fi networks.
In most cases, hackers will need the interaction of the victim. They are going to require us to make a mistake. Hence, it is very important to maintain common sense at all times and not have problems.
In short, these are some essential points that we must take into account in case they have entered our account. We have also seen what to do to protect ourselves, to avoid security risks.
