How to avoid getting hacked on social media in 2026

Imagine waking up to check your feed on Facebook or Instagram, and you’ve been locked out of your own account. While this is happening, your friends are receiving strange messages asking for money, crypto investments, or urgent help. This is one of the most common signs that your social media account has been hacked.

These attacks often start with vulnerabilities such as weak passwords, risky third-party app permissions, or fake phishing links sent via messages or email. Once inside your account, they may create account-cloning profiles or message your contacts, pretending to be you.

Understanding how to avoid being hacked on social media is the first step to keeping yourself safe. With the right social media security tips, such as enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) and using security tools like Webroot Total Protection, you can greatly reduce your risk of losing control of your social media accounts.

The new wave of social media scams

Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok have become prime targets for cybercriminals. Here are some of the most common tactics used today.

The look who died link

One of the most rapidly spreading scams is a shocking message sent via direct messages. Since the message comes from a friend’s compromised account, it sounds trustworthy.

The message often says something alarming like “look who died?”, and it includes a malicious phishing link that leads to a fake login page. Once you enter your credentials, hackers capture them and gain access to your account.

Account cloning

Another fast-growing threat is account cloning. Hackers replicate your profile photo, name, and basic information, and create a fake account that’s almost identical to yours.

They send romantic friend requests or connection requests to your contacts. As soon as they are accepted, they ask for money by advertising fake crypto investments or by sharing malicious links.

The influencer trap

This scam is more common on Instagram and TikTok. Scammers disguise themselves as brands offering sponsorships or partnerships and send professional-looking emails or direct messages.

Victims are asked to sign in to a fake platform to verify their account, and the fake portal captures their login details.

The most common social media scams of 2026

Here are some of the most common scams that people fall victim to in 2026.

The “Is this you?” video phishing

The message appears vague, such as “Is this you in this video?” or “Look what I found!” It contains a suspicious phishing link that points to a video page.

Clicking the link takes the user to a fake login page that collects the account’s information. Given that the message is from someone they know, many users enter their login details without hesitation.

Romance and crypto scams

Another threat is a combination of emotional manipulation and financial fraud. Here, the attacker gradually builds a friendly or romantic relationship with the victim.

At some point, they pitch a high-return cryptocurrency investment opportunity, and victims are directed to a professional-looking but fake crypto platform. Once the money is deposited, the scammer disappears.

The verified badge trap

This scam targets users seeking to boost their online credibility. Victims receive a direct message alleging they are eligible for a verified badge (blue check). The message contains a link that is supposed to let them authenticate their identity.

The page asks for login credentials or asks users to accept risky third-party application permissions. Legitimate platforms will never ask for passwords via direct messages. These scams often succeed because they appeal to the user’s desire for recognition and status.

Essential security settings you must enable

Many people assume that using a strong password is enough to stay safe online. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case. Here are some practical social media security tips that can dramatically reduce your chances of getting hacked.

Step 1: turn on 2FA (non-SMS)

One of the most important protections you can use is two-factor authentication (2FA). This feature adds a second verification layer after your password, making it much harder for attackers to access your account even with your login details. However, the type of 2FA you choose is important.

Most platforms allow verification codes to be sent via text messages, but unfortunately, this method is vulnerable to SIM swapping. A safer option is an authenticator app like Google Authenticator, which generates login codes on your device. Since the codes are created locally, they cannot be intercepted via phone networks.

Step 2: audit third-party app permissions

Another important step is to review the apps connected to your accounts. Over the years, you’ve probably approved quizzes, games, and productivity tools that request access to your social media profiles. These apps often retain third-party app permissions long after they’re no longer used, and that access can become a weakness if the developer’s system is compromised.

You should regularly review the apps you’ve downloaded and uninstall those you don’t use. It’s one of the basic yet effective social media security tips to help you shut down the hidden entry points that hackers may exploit.

Step 3: switch to private profile settings

If your profile is completely open on social media, hackers can easily compile information about your social network. This information may be used in account-cloning scams. Once the fake account is set up, the attacker sends connection or friend requests to your contacts. Since the profile seems familiar, you’ll likely accept the request only to receive messages later asking for money, cryptocurrency investments, or emergency help.

Switching to stricter privacy settings, such as making your Instagram account private or restricting who can see who you are friends with on Facebook, reduces the amount of information scammers can use to target your network.

One solution for all needs: Webroot Total Protection

Webroot Total Protection is a holistic shield with multiple layers of defense that help users avoid getting hacked on social media without constantly managing complex security settings. In this section, we’ll explore some of its features.

Mobile-first defense

Since almost all social interaction now happens on smartphones, attackers mostly target mobile devices. They send messages with suspicious links from friends or known accounts, since it’s easy for you to trust them. Once you click these links, you may unknowingly enter your login information on a fake page designed to capture your information.

Webroot Total Protection helps to protect mobile users by scanning websites and even detecting malicious web links before they load. This additional layer of protection strengthens Instagram hack prevention and Facebook account security across devices.

Identity and privacy shield

Another danger is from leaked credentials. When hackers access your email and password from a data breach, they try to use it across multiple platforms. This helps attackers gain access to accounts quickly because users often use weak passwords or reuse the same credentials.

Webroot Total Protection helps reduce this risk to a minimum by monitoring identities and looking for exposed information online. If your email or password was compromised in a breach, the breach system will alert you so you can change your password right away.

Password management

If a hacker can access one account, they may try to log in to others using those credentials. This practice leaves accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and even financial platforms open.

The built-in password manager in Webroot Total Protection helps address this issue by creating strong, unique passwords for each account. This eliminates the risk of weak passwords and makes it easier to use strong security measures to effectively prevent hacking.

Chromebook and tablet support

Many people protect their main devices but overlook other devices in the household. Devices such as Chromebooks and tablets are often used by children, making them potential avenues for hackers.

Webroot Total Protection provides comprehensive protection for multiple devices. It secures all devices linked to your accounts to prevent attackers from carrying out account cloning scams or social engineering attacks by using your compromised profiles.

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Other ways to secure your social media account

Here are some other ways to secure your social media account.

Use login notifications

One of the simplest, but effective social media security tips is to enable login notifications. Most major platforms allow people to receive notifications whenever someone attempts to log in from a device or browser they don’t often use.

These warnings give you a head start before someone can cause damage. For example, if you detect a login attempt you don’t recognise, change your password, go to your account settings, and check that two-factor authentication (2FA) is still in place.

Review trusted devices and active sessions

Another important habit is to review your account activity regularly. Most social platforms have an activity section that shows which device is currently logged in and where you most recently logged in.

If you discover something out of the ordinary, you need to immediately log out of the sessions to change your password and prevent it from being accessed again. It’s also a good idea to remove any old or shared devices still connected to your account.

Be wary of viral social media quizzes

Viral quizzes and games may seem harmless, but many quizzes and games have been created to gather personal information. Attackers use these strategies as part of an overall social engineering campaign to obtain information that can lead to account breaches.

To be safe, avoid taking quizzes that ask for your personal information, especially from unknown pages or suspicious links. Try to limit the amount of personal information you put online.

What to do if you are already hacked

If your account has already been compromised, don’t panic. Here’s what you should do.

• Check your email. First, check your email inbox for security alerts from the platform. If you receive a login notification indicating an unknown source, open the message and click the option to secure your account as soon as possible.
• Request a login link. If you can’t log in to your account, choose the “Forgot password” or “Recovery” option immediately. Creating a new password and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) can help strengthen your account’s security going forward.
• Video selfie verification. Some platforms have now introduced advanced identity verification tools. For example, Instagram allows users to submit a short video selfie to identify themselves. This feature verifies that you’re the account owner and can also speed up the recovery process if your account was compromised by account cloning or phishing.
• Warn your friends. Inform your contacts immediately. Hackers often send people scam messages that impersonate you, asking them to send money or click a fraudulent link. Posting a quick message advising friends not to trust recent messages from your account can help prevent scams from spreading further.

Conclusion: social media is your digital reputation

Learning how to avoid getting hacked on a social media platform means that you are protecting your own identity, reputation, and that of the people that you’re connected to. Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), avoiding suspicious links, removing unnecessary third-party app permissions, and using strong passwords are essential social media security tips.

You can also rely on a comprehensive tool such as Webroot Total Protection. It blocks malicious URLs, checks whether someone else has stolen your credentials, and helps keep your accounts safe while you keep up with your online activities.

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