[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/carolineemerson/status/158569536042446848″]
It’s probably happened to someone you follow, or someone who follows you. Twitter accounts get hacked when users have simple passwords, when users click on links from other hacked accounts or when users aren’t properly managing privacy.
But what do you do when (and if) your account is hacked?
- Change your password to a more secure option. Use a complex password that is a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. Use capitals and lowercase letters. Create a password that is longer than eight characters in length.
- Post a message immediately letting your followers know that your account has been compromised and that followers should not click on any links until further notice.
- Go immediately to Settings –> Applications and Revoke Access to any third-party app you don’t recognize or trust.
- Update your password in any third-party apps you use to manage Twitter.
- Delete any tweets that went out without your authorization.
- Finally, when all is well again, post a message letting followers know the situation has been resolved.
Don’t freak out — it happens. Just calmly follow the steps to get it resolved as quickly as possible, and be more careful going forward.
Thanks to Caroline Emerson for the inspiration for this post!
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And don’t click on those links!
I noticed quite a few of our local Twitter friends were hacked over the weekend. I’d also love your thoughts on what you should do when you see that someone has been hacked, but you don’t know them well enough to call/text them. If you DM them, will they sill get it?
@smallchic you can reply to them if DM isn’t possible. They should get it — especially if they get email notifications.
Happened to a few of my friends too over the weekend–thanks for the help, Marijean.