The first thing to do if you suspect your Facebook account has been compromised is to change your password. If you use Facebook as a login to apps like Spotify or Instagram then you must change the logins. This will block the hacker from accessing these services through your compromised Facebook profile.
A compromised Facebook account can offer hackers a treasure trove of personal information. Hackers can utilize this information for fraudulent purposes, such as taking credit card numbers or sending people fake credit card offers or scams using phishing. They may also use the compromised account to send spam messages to friends, or even put up a post on your Facebook timeline with your name (as in the case that you did it yourself).
One of the most common ways hackers gain access to an account is when they exploit an error in Facebook’s application code. A bug in the iOS Facebook app allows hackers to steal cookies, and then steal the “access token” of an iPhone user. These tokens, which are digital keys, give them complete control over the user’s Facebook Account, as well as any other websites they visit with their Facebook credentials.
A hacker may also gain access to an account through brute force attacks. This method involves figuring out passwords, mostly the most commonly used ones like 123456789 and 1234567890. Also, hackers may gain access to accounts by scanning for compromised credentials. There are many free tools available to scan for stolen data, including the popular website HaveIBeenPwned.
