It’s not uncommon for celebrities to claim their X/Twitter was hacked when they are caught posting something offensive or unintelligent. It does happen, however, and it is not rare: in fact, the enormous distribution of the platform makes it a particularly attractive target for cybercriminals. There are several ways a hacker can gain access to your X account and then use it to steal information and commit fraud. We look at the warning signs that your X account may have been hacked, explain how to recover your account, and ensure it remains secure in the future.

How to know if your X (Twitter) has been compromised

Although X has all the strict security measures you’d expect from such a massive platform, there are several ways that hackers can access your account. The most common is probably phishingcriminals somehow persuading you to click on a fraudulent link.

Other methods used to hack an X account include exploiting weak passwords and using so-called man-in-the-middle attacks when a device is used on an insecure network. Meanwhile, if a hacker manages to install malware on your device, they can use keylogging software to spy on your login information. There are a number of signs that your X account may have been hacked, some obvious, others harder to spot. These include a password that won’t work, unauthorized tweets or direct messages from your account, unexpected actions like follows or blocks, and notifications from X itself that your account may be compromised or your account information has changed.

Sign 1: Unauthorized tweets

Criminals often use a hacked account to tweet phishing emails or spam links, and this is sometimes the first clue that your X account has been hacked. The messages are likely to offer financial rewards – Bitcoin scams are widespread – or weight-loss drugs, competition victories, etc.

Sign 2: Other unexpected behavior

Once a hacker takes control of your X account, they can make other changes as well. You may see unexpected direct messages or notice that a large number of subscribers have been added or removed. Third-party apps may also be allowed without your permission.

Sign 3: Notifications from

X will alert you by email if it detects unexpected activity on your account. It will do this if it detects unauthorized login attempts, login attempts from a new device or unusual location, or suspicious activity that caused it to lock your account.

Sign 4: You can’t connect

Any problem logging into your X account is a clear red flag. If your password no longer works, and especially if you receive a notification inviting you to reset it, it is very likely that your account has been hacked.

Sign 5: Money disappears

Accessing your X account can allow hackers to impersonate you more broadly. Be wary of unknown charges on your credit card or bank accounts, as well as missing funds from your cryptocurrency wallet or suspicious emails that appear to come from cryptocurrency exchanges.

What should you do if your X (Twitter) is hacked?

If you spot any of these warning signs, you’ll need to take action. It’s a good idea to do this as early as possible, before hackers have a chance to exploit your account to cause problems for you or your contacts.

You will need to change your password, making sure to update the password in your trusted third-party applications, otherwise you may be temporarily blocked again. You must also ensure that the the email address linked to your account is securescan for viruses and revoke access to any third-party apps you don’t recognize. If you are still having issues, you can contact the X support team. here for help.

Step 1: Change your password

If you can still log into your account, your first step should be to change your password to prevent attackers from gaining access. Simply open the app, go to Sign in and click Forgotten Password to perform a simple reset.

You will need to provide an email or phone number for a confirmation code; When you enter this, it allows you to set a new password. You should of course make sure that the new password is as strong as possible, using upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. Avoid anything that can be guessed, such as dates of birth or names of children or pets, as well as “edited” versions of any of them. If this seems too difficult to remember, you might consider storing your new password – and all your others – securely in a password manager.

Step 2: Make sure your email address is secure

You can change the email address associated with your account from the X app, or by logging into X.com and visiting the Account Settings tab by clicking the “plus” icon, then Settings and confidentiality.

Click Your Account, then Account Information and enter your password. Next, click Email, then enter your email address in the Email field. (It’s important to note that an email address can only be associated with one X account at a time.) Finally, click the Save button at the bottom of the page. X will then send you an email asking you to confirm the change and then asking you to log in to the account.

Step 3: Scan for viruses

If your

For this reason, you should run an antivirus scan – as thorough a scan as possible – as soon as possible. This will check your device for spyware, Trojans, keyloggers, and other types of malware, and allow you to delete anything it finds. You must follow this process for each device you use to access X, including computers, smart phones and tablets. This will prevent hackers from being able to access your account in the future.

Step 4: Revoke third-party app connections

While you’re signed in, visit Apps in your Settings and take a look at the list of third-party apps that have access to your account. You’ll be able to see not only a list of the apps themselves, but also when your account was connected to those apps.

Check the list and remove those that you did not authorize yourself. And while you’re at it, update your password in third-party apps you trust, to ensure you’ll always have access. You can also check your sessions (the devices your account is logged in on) and delete them all except the one you are currently using.

How can you recover and reactivate your X (Twitter) account?

As we’ve seen, it should be possible to regain access to your account fairly quickly, as long as you’re not actually locked out.

Even if you no longer have access to your account due to a password change, it’s possible that you can regain access this way, if the hackers didn’t bother to change the password. email address and phone numbers associated with the account – and many do. t. Simply open the app, go to Sign in and click Forgotten Password to perform a simple reset. If you are still having issues, you can contact the company by submitting a Support request. You will need to use the email address associated with the compromised account.

How can you protect your X (Twitter) account from hackers?

As we’ve seen, hackers have several ways to gain access to your X account. If you’ve been hacked, you need to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize the risks.

The first is of course to use a strong password. It’s also a very good idea to enable two-factor authentication, so that the account is only accessible after entering a security code or key sent via email or SMS. You should also, if possible, lock your device with biometrics such as Face ID or Touch ID. Be very wary of unsolicited emails or text messages, which may be phishing attempts, and only download apps that you are sure you can trust. And it goes without saying that you should never share your username and password with anyone else.

Conclusion

A hacked X account can cause many problems, ranging from embarrassment to financial loss. Fortunately, a quick response and a few simple actions can minimize problems and help ensure the same thing doesn’t happen again.