Facebook is by far, the most popular social networking platform used around the world with an estimated 2.7 billion daily users. With this volume of users, Facebook has implemented some strict security measures to help protect their user’s accounts and sensitive data. and more importantly, being hacked or account takeovers. The social network uses strict security measures to prevent accounts from being hacked and stop malicious software or hackers from harming the site. One of these security measures is to automatically lock users accounts if an action is triggered. There are a variety of reasons that can lead to being locked out of your account that can range from violating one of its rules to suspicious logins. It’s also possible that someone reported your account as fake and requested for its removal, reported your content as abusive, or marked it as spam. If you were recently locked out of Facebook, due to a technical glitch, user error or compromised account, then you can use Facebook’s automated compromised reporting tool. In most cases, you’ll regain access to your account within a few minutes.
Report a Compromise to Facebook
Step 1
Type “facebook.com/hacked” in the address bar of a Web browser. Press “Enter” on your keyboard.
Step 2
Click the “My Account is Compromised” button to continue.
Step 3
Fill in the form on the next page by choosing one of three identification methods: email address or phone number, Facebook username, or your name along with a friend’s name. Then click the “Continue” button to continue onto the next page
Step 4
Enter your Facebook account’s password, and click “Continue.” On the next page, the website notifies you that your account is locked out, which it may or may not have already been.
Step 5
Type a “New Password” and “Confirm Password.” When done typing, click the “Change Password” button.
Step 6
Click the check box for each email address associated with your account, confirming you have changed the password for your email address. This is a security precaution. Click “Continue” to move to the next step.
Step 7
Review if there were changes to Account Settings, and then click “Continue.”
Step 8
Click the “Log In” button. Your Facebook account is unlocked, and you may proceed to use it as normal.
Prevention: Activate Two Factor Authentication
An important security step that can reduce the chances that your account is ever taken over by a malicious actor is to activate two-factor authentication, which can be found in your accounts settings in the ‘Security and Login’ menu.
You will be asked to register your phone number with Facebook as the rightful owner of the account. Whenever you log into your account you will be sent a code to the number associated with your account to verify the login. Two-factor authentication is one measure that is highly recommended because it would mean that a thief would not only have to steal your username and password, they would also have to get their hands on your phone while trying to log in.
