How to protect yourself from social media account hacks

MORE than 35,000 UK social media and email account hacking incidents were reported in 2024.

Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, has launched a new campaign in partnership with Meta to help people secure their accounts. Last year, victims lost nearly £1 million to hackers, with the most common motives being investment fraud, ticket scams, and direct account takeovers.

Here’s how you can protect yourself:

• Enable 2-Step Verification (2SV): This extra layer of security makes it much harder for hackers to gain access to your accounts, even if they know your password.

• Use strong, unique passwords: Avoid using the same password across multiple sites. Instead, create long and strong passwords using three random words.

• Beware of phishing scams: Fraudsters often trick people into revealing login details through fake emails or messages. If in doubt, don’t click—go directly to the official website.

• Watch out for on-platform chain hacking: Hackers impersonate real account holders to deceive friends and followers into revealing security codes or making payments.

• Stay informed: Cybercriminals constantly evolve their tactics. Keep up to date with the latest online security advice from trusted sources.

If you suspect you've been hacked or have lost money, report it immediately at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.