No Fb hack that enables hackers to put up with out an account proprietor understanding

VERIFY usually shares info on easy methods to shield private info on-line and ideas for avoiding scams. A number of VERIFY readers, together with Tara, reached out to ask about chain posts that declare there’s a brand new “hack” on Fb, the place scammers can publish inappropriate posts to an account with out the proprietor understanding. 

“Apparently somebody has discovered one other technique to damage and offend folks for No cause. Here’s a heads up for everybody. There’s a new FB hack. It features a hurtful phrase coming from you. It is extremely soiled and seems that you’ve written it. You’ll NOT see it however your pals will. This creates many misunderstandings. So to all my contacts. If something surprising, inappropriate, or indecent seems on my timeline, Please understand it didn’t come from me,” the posts learn.

Are hackers posting offensive messages on Fb profiles that the account proprietor can’t see? 

No, hackers aren’t posting offensive messages on Fb profiles that account homeowners can’t see.

There’s no proof that persons are hacking Fb accounts and sharing posts the account proprietor can’t see. Regardless of the hack being described as “new,” comparable posts have been circulating for a number of years.

In 2021, Fb informed AFP Truth Examine, “All rumours circulating on-line round an alleged hack the place hurtful feedback are posted to a consumer’s web page or despatched to their contacts and should not made seen, are merely false.”

Totally different variations of the viral chain message put up have been spreading on-line since as early as 2011, like this put up that says, “Apparently Hackers are busy on Fb!!! They put up some insulting messages on the wall of your pals along with your regards, with out you understanding about it. In the event you obtain a kind of messages in my title, it is not from me. Put this in your wall and warn your pals. Unfold the information!”

In 2019, laptop restore firm C-Immediate Computer systems known as the chain message a hoax, writing, “I’m unaware of any manner that the coding may very well be manipulated such which you can’t see the objectionable content material and your pals can. That might require some sort of entry to Fb’s coding, and your common hacker isn’t going to have that. When your account on Fb is hacked, the hackers achieve entry to the identical stuff you see.”

Any posts shared in your Fb web page may be discovered by viewing your exercise log. That’s the place yow will discover any posts you’ve shared, stuff you’ve been tagged in, your log-in historical past and extra. If one thing doesn’t present up as a put up in your exercise log, your pals aren’t in a position to see it. 

Equally, to see if something was despatched through Messenger to your pals, you possibly can click on the Messenger icon on Fb and choose chats to see if something suspicious or new is there.  

It’s attainable for folks to clone Fb accounts, however that is completely different from hacking. When somebody clones an account, they copy info and pictures from a Fb account and might ship requests to all the unique web page homeowners’ mates. Scammers use cloned accounts for a wide range of schemes, together with to “compromise your repute by posting one thing inappropriate to your pals or in public,” digital privateness NordVPN explains. 

To verify in case your account has been cloned, you possibly can ask mates or household in the event that they acquired a good friend request from an account along with your title or picture or do a seek for your title on Fb.

In the event you suspect your Fb account has been compromised, you possibly can report it on Fb’s web site.

VERIFY reached out to Fb for remark however didn’t hear again on the time of publication.