Twitter is a huge social media platform that teens around the world love. It is a great way to express your thoughts and feelings as well as share videos of yourself or simply ones you find cute or funny. This popular site has seen an increase in hacking issues. This presents a real issue for teens that they should be aware of. Is your Twitter Account Hacked?

The Dangers of a Hacked Twitter Account

There are several issues that can arise from having your Twitter hacked. One is that people are able to post as you. In some cases, this is done by friends of the victim who are trying to embarrass or in some cases bully the person by posting mean things about them. While this used to cause a huge scene, most people recognize this as a Twitter hack right away now. However, some people may be malicious with their hacking and post pictures you do not want other people to see. This is why you should be vigilant about protecting your information.

There are so many things people use the internet for today and with just one account being compromised it is easy for the rest of your accounts to be hacked as well. This can destroy your entire digital life. While this may not seem like that huge of an issue, think about all your online accounts, including banking, social media and more. Even pictures that are near and dear to you can be compromised when you are hacked. This is why you should be ever vigilant to ensure that you are not the victim of hacking. While it can still happen it is something that you can be prepared for.

How are Twitter Accounts Hacked?

There are several ways that someone’s Twitter account can be hacked. The most common is due to a poor password choice. In some cases, this can be the result of a virus or malware on the computer. Most people think that the signs of a virus are when there is something wrong with their device, but there are some that do not harm your computer but rather collect your personal information and report it.

Being on a compromised network can also cause your Twitter information as well as your login information on other sites to be hacked. This is most common with unsecured wifi networks. This is why it is best to ensure you know the source of the wifi you are using, especially if it is not secure.

What to Do When Twitter Account Hacked

When it comes to hacking Twitter accounts, it seems that hackers are getting more and more creative. It used to be that you could simply use the Twitter password reset and everything would be alright once again. However, this is not always the case. While filling out a Twitter password change request will help with this, there are a few other things you will need to do as well.

To start with you will need to look through your account to see what all was done. Go through and delete any posts that you did not make. You will also want to revoke access to third party apps that you have not authorized. While doing this it is a good idea to make sure that the apps you have on your Twitter feed are actually safe so that they do not cause you to get hacked again.

You will also want to make sure that the email address you are using is safe. If you are concerned it is not, you can always change your email address for Twitter. Also, make sure you have updated your password with third party apps that you trust. If not, you will find that this can cause failed login attempts that lock you out of your account.

If you are still experiencing difficulties with your account, then the best thing you can do is to contact Twitter support. They have a tab that is specifically for hacked accounts. You will need to provide them with some basic information, such as the last time you were able to successfully log in to your account. From there they will be able to walk you through restoring your account.

How to Prevent Twitter Accounts From Being Hacked

Preventing hacking is an important skill to know in today’s society. Keep in mind that this is an ever-changing field so it is something you will need to keep current on throughout your life. Here are a few basic things to keep in mind:

  • Create strong passwords. Weak passwords are one of the easiest ways people are able to hack accounts. With just a little information about you, some hackers can get into your accounts.
  • Another common password issue is people who use the same password for all their accounts. You should always use a different password for each account. If you cannot remember all these passwords- and let’s be honest no one can- then you can create a secure document with all your passwords. If you want to be even safer you can use apps such as Dashlane which keeps track of your passwords for you.
  • You should also change your passwords frequently. Changing your passwords every few months can help to keep hacking from happening to you. This is especially true with hackers who get your login information and then sell it to others.
  • Keep your internet security program up to date and scan your devices regularly. If you are not using virus protection on your smartphone then this is something you need to do. There are viruses that can get your information without you ever knowing about it.
  • For added safety and precaution you can use the login verification. With this, once you enter your username and password you will be required to enter a code via text message in order to log in.
  • Do not trust your password to anyone. This includes people you know and trust as well as third party programs who want to sign in to Twitter or other sites for you.

How to Keep Up to Date on Preventing Hacking

The best thing you can do is to keep current on hacking and phishing scams. You can do this simply by reading about them when you have the time. Some people like to set Google alerts while others simply subscribe to tech newsletters that keep people updated about the newest technology as well as the newest technological dangers. Even though for teens today the internet has been around their entire life, this is still relatively new and ever evolving. This is why it is imperative that you focus on keeping yourself safe, not just from the dangers that are present now, but from future dangers as well.

Talking With Teens About Internet Safety

Internet safety is a huge concern for all people, especially teens. Your teens are when you really start to explore the internet and this is often when the most damage can happen. There have been many campaigns on various social media sites showing just how far-reaching a single picture can go, but protecting yourself goes further than this.

Talk with your teen about what can happen if they are the victim of hacking. For teens who work and use online banking along with their other sites, this can be easier to explain because they see that there is more to lose. No matter how much interaction your teen has online it is important that they are protected.

It is also a good idea to make sure they understand what is actually online. Since most social media sites have apps many teens and adults alike think they are not online when using them. This is a common misconception. If you need to illustrate the point, simply turn off the wifi and data connection on their phone to prove that they are online. This can help them to realize that just about everything they do on their phones is online.

Just because there have been several hacking scandals with Twitter over the last couple of years does not mean that you should abandon the site. It can still be a wonderful way to express yourself and keep current on things you love. As with anything else in life, it is important that you are careful about protecting yourself so that you do not become a victim.