Index
How crackers get into a Facebook profile
Not being an expert on hacking issues, you've always wondered how crackers do it enter a Facebook profile without leaving a trace. Well, there are various techniques that are used by cybercriminals, some of which are particularly effective. Very often they leverage the ingenuity and inexperience of users and, for this reason, it is possible to defend against them by adopting simple precautions (which we will learn more about in the last part of this article). Now, however, let's go in order and try to get to know more closely the weapons that are in the hands of the enemy, so as not to be taken by surprise.
Keylogger
Among the most dangerous and effective "cyber weapons" that are used by crackers, there are the keylogger: software capable of intercepting everything that is typed on the computer keyboard, from the access credentials to one's accounts to the searches made online, passing through the access credentials to home banking services. Some of these spy programs are so advanced that they are even able to capture users' passwords when they enter them with copy-paste or a voice dictation program and then send that information to crackers, who can then act undisturbed and without leaving a trace.
Reading the article in which I explain how to use Home KeyLogger, a "domestic" spy software that can also be used by those without particular computer knowledge, you can realize how easy it is to capture passwords using such a program and how dangerous the technique is of keylogging. Obviously, "home" keyloggers are much less powerful than more advanced programs, since they do not send the intercepted text to the cracker, but they are still just as effective.
Spy app
Access your Facebook profile from your smartphone or tablet? If so, pay close attention to the spy-app which, as can be easily guessed from their name, spy on everything the user does on their device: from the text typed to the calls made, from chats to Web search, through access to the camera and the creation of screenshots.
If you suspect that your device may host some spy app, read the guide in which I explain how to check for the presence of spy apps and remove any doubts in this regard. Maybe make good use of the Wakelock Detector app (which I told you about in detail in the post where I explain how to save battery on Android devices) thanks to which you can monitor battery consumption and check for any spy software on your smartphone or on your tablet.
Also pay attention to the apps for the parental control and applications Theft Protection, which could be used by your own family members (perhaps a jealous spouse or suspicious parent) to monitor your online activities. If you want to know in detail how some of these apps work, including Qustodio or Cerberus, read the in-depth article in which I show you how to spy on an Android device.
Social engineering
Another potential threat that you should pay close attention to is the so-called "SOCIAL ENGINEERING". What is it about? Of a technique by which the attackers exploit the good faith and ingenuity of the victim to steal his data, The ways in which this technique is used are almost always the same: the cracker (or his accomplice) approaches his potential victim and, with an excuse, asks to lend him the smartphone or PC. Once physical access to the device is obtained, the criminal can view all information concerning the user (even the most confidential), including access to his Facebook profile.
Since this technique is more and more widespread and, at the same time effective, I suggest you not to lend one of your devices to strangers (or, in any case, to people you don't trust much). This way your personal information and your Facebook profile will be safe.
Phishing
Il Phishing is another popular and effective hacking technique. It is usually perpetrated by sending an email (or with a notification dating back to a Facebook page) that appears to come from Mark Zuckerberg's company but which, in reality, originated from a cybercriminal who is trying to steal the profile to his potential victim.
Generally the user is then invited to click on a link that leads to a web page, which could resemble that of Facebook and in which the user should enter the access credentials to his account. If the user falls into the trap, he will be the one to hand over the "keys" of his profile to the cybercriminal, thus becoming an "accomplice" to his executioner. How can you defend yourself from phishing? Simple: by not clicking on suspicious notifications or links.
Attacks on browser databases
Sometimes crackers attack the browser database of their potential victims to steal the access data to their accounts that users have saved in them. Again, the user becomes an "accomplice" to the cracker. Are you wondering how? By saving the passwords of their accounts in the browsers used, the user hands the access credentials to their profiles, including that of Facebook, on a "silver platter"!
If you want to get an idea of how simple it can be to recover the passwords saved in the most popular browsers, read the article I published on the subject and, to defend yourself from this "cyber trap", do not save the passwords in the browsers you use to log into Facebook or any other online service. Understood?
How to secure your Facebook profile
After considering the main "weapons" used by cybercriminals to enter a Facebook profile without leaving a trace, it is time to secure your account. As they say, “prevention is better than cure” and, for this reason, I invite you to read even more carefully the paragraphs that contain some tips and suggestions that will be of great help to avoid unpleasant intrusions by dangerous cybercriminals.
Use a secure password
The first step in securing your Facebook profile is use a secure password. In this way you can complicate the "job" for the cracker who would like to enter your Facebook profile. Below I will give you the identikit of a good password.
- Use a long password - must consist of at least 15-20 characters.
- Use a password that is difficult to guess - alternate letters, numbers, symbols and avoid using your date of birth, the name of a family member or easily understood sequences of numbers and letters as a password (eg "123456", "qwertyuiop", "abcdefg", etc. ).
- Use different passwords for each account - by doing so, even if unfortunately they were to steal your Facebook password, all your other accounts would not risk being attacked in turn.
- Change your password regularly - if you get into the habit of changing your password at least once a month, you will significantly raise the security standard of your Facebook account.
- Manage your passwords with a password manager - by doing this you will be able to better manage the passwords of your countless accounts and create sufficiently secure access keys using the password generators included in this kind of tools in the correct way. For more details about it, read the guide where I explain how to manage passwords with 1Password o LastPass, two very popular password managers.
Did you just notice that your current Facebook password does not meet the aforementioned security standards? Then change it now! If you don't know how to do it, read the tutorial in which I'll explain in detail how to change your Facebook password.
Enable two-factor authentication
Another fundamental step to secure your Facebook account is to enable thetwo-way authentication factors, which allows you to log in on a new device or a new browser only after entering the password to access the account and a second key which, generally, is sent via SMS.
Haven't activated two-factor authentication on your Facebook profile yet? Then activate it now! Then log into your Facebook account, click on the icon arrow which is located at the top right (you can find it near the symbol "?"), Click on the item Settings in the menu that appears and, on the page that opens, select the item Security and access located on the left.
Now, click on the button Modification located at the entry Use two-factor authentication, click on the link Configure located next to the item Two-factor authentication is disabled and finally click on the button Activate in the box that appears on the screen. Now all you have to do is follow the instructions that are shown on the screen to activate this additional security system.
At the end of the procedure, every time you log in from a new device or a new browser, you will need to enter a second security key (which you will receive via SMS) to access your account. Thanks to two-factor authentication your Facebook account is much more secure!
Enable notifications for unauthorized access
Although you've set up a secure password and enabled two-factor authentication on your profile, there's still some chance (albeit remote) that your Facebook account could be hacked. If you want to notice it in time, thus avoiding irreparable damage, I advise you to enable notifications for unauthorized access.
To activate this additional security system, log in to Facebook, click on the symbol of arrow (top right) and, in the menu that appears, select the item Settings. On the page that appears, select the item Protection and accounts located on the left, click on the button Modification which is located at the entry Receive alerts on unrecognized logins, put the checkmark next to the options Receive notifications e Send access alerts via SMS to [your mobile number] and finally click on the button Save Changes.
If someone were to access your account without your permission, you will receive an SMS notification and you can take prompt action to close all active sessions and prevent anyone from doing any damage to your account. To close all active Facebook sessions, go to the section Where are you logged in (on the same page from which you activated the access alerts) and click on the item Log out of all sessions to “kick out” the cracker who made the unauthorized access from your account. Then promptly reset a new secure password and contact Facebook to report the incident.
Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks
Since public Wi-Fi networks are particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks - crackers use them to "sniff" user data - avoid connecting to the Internet in this way. Much better to use your operator's 3G or 4G connection.
Also, regardless of whether or not you use Facebook, I highly recommend using one VPN, that is, a virtual private network that can encrypt the connection data and disguise your geographical position, in order to make all the data circulating on the connection invisible to malicious people, providers and companies. There are certainly some of the most interesting VPN services of the moment NordVPN (which I told you about in depth here) and Surfshark that offer low prices and work on smartphones, tablets and computers in a very simple way.
Don't reveal too much personal information
Learn not to reveal too much information about yourself: your home address, school or office address, when you are at home, and so on. In addition to the safety of your account, you must also think (indeed, above all!) About the safety of your person. For this reason, do not post on Facebook what concerns your private sphere or you risk putting information about you and your family at the mercy of anyone. Remember: anything posted on the internet can somehow be recovered.
How to enter a Facebook profile without leaving a trace
