How Hackers Hack A Facebook Account Password [Investigation]

Last Updated on October 25, 2023

Hackers compromise about 1,200,000 million Facebook accounts daily. Despite the strict security set up by Facebook, the company still warns users against possible daily attacks. In truth, Facebook will not be able to stop hacking because most users are very careless. Although the brute force attack is less impactful now, it still works on people who use phone numbers and spouses’ names as passwords. As you can see, it is super easy to keep hacking. This post will show you how hackers hack a Facebook account password and how to protect your account.

Since many users decide to create passwords with their surname, spouse’s name, or birthday, hackers are having a field day. But how do they get all of this information for a successful operation?

Methods Used By Hackers to Hack a Facebook Account Password

Speaking to a cybersecurity Shilpa Ranganatha, who is an advanced cybersecurity engineer with over seven years of experience, she exposed quite a lot.

1. Three-Friend Attack

Regarding how to hack a Facebook account password, the three-friend attack is a technique only a few are aware of.

A hacker selects a target and studies him/her for some days. Then goes ahead to create three different fake Facebook accounts. A friend request is sent to the person with the fake Facebook account.

For female targets, a fake female Facebook account is created, and a friend request is sent.

“The Hacker initiates the account recovery process on Facebook by clicking ‘Forgot Email.’ They then log in to Facebook and input the target’s username or email address, leading to the display of a list of accounts with the specified username.

Selecting the target’s account, The Hacker clicks ‘This Is My Account,‘ and instead of entering a password, they opt for ‘Forgot Password.’ Facebook redirects them to a new page, where they’re prompted to provide an email address.

On this new page, The Hacker selects three Facebook accounts that they’ve set up as trusted friends. Subsequently, Facebook forwards codes to these fictitious accounts. The Hacker proceeds to log in to all three fake accounts to retrieve the codes. Returning to the original page, they input the obtained codes, advancing in the account recovery process. Finally, The Hacker checks the email they’ve designated as a recovery email and locates the password recovery URL. Following the URL, they can set a new password and successfully access the Facebook account.

Clickjacking

Clickjacking is a method initiated by The Hacker that involves creating a fraudulent website lacking SSL security. If The Hacker lacks the necessary programming skills, they can seek assistance from a programmer. To execute this technique, The Hacker replicates the Facebook website and procures a domain name that closely resembles Facebook, such as chat.facebook.me.com or facebookfreinds.com. They then refer to the OSIF scripting guide provided in this article to extract the target’s email.

Next, The Hacker sends an email to the target, incorporating the URL of the counterfeit website and ensuring it appears official. Within the email, they promise free access to Facebook chats and images through the URL. Subsequently, the unsuspecting target visits the fraudulent website and employs the sign-in form, unknowingly entering their password. The plugins embedded within the deceptive website capture the target’s login information and store it on The Hacker’s site. The Hacker then accesses their own website to retrieve the captured login details, gaining unauthorized access to the victim’s Facebook account.

Brute Force Attack

The Brute Force Attack technique, although once a prominent method employed by hackers to hack a Facebook account password, has become less relevant and outdated in the contemporary hacking landscape. Facebook has implemented captcha protection to thwart excessive requests from random IP addresses, significantly limiting the effectiveness of this approach. Generating a multitude of different passwords takes substantial time, and successful execution demands the use of an expensive computer. Even after investing these resources, there is no assurance of obtaining the correct password, making it a potentially futile endeavour.

Cookie Theft

Another method, known as Cookie Theft, involves exploiting browser cookies to access a user’s Facebook log in data temporarily stored therein. Nonetheless, this technique has become increasingly challenging and less productive due to the enhanced security measures implemented by modern web browsers. In most instances, cookies have expiration periods, rendering this process largely ineffective. Despite these obstacles, some hackers continue to utilize this method, even though it offers limited chances of success.

Phone/SMS Method

The old phone and SMS social engineering is one of the common ways hackers use to hack a Facebook account password.

In the Phone Calls/SMS method, The Hacker begins by sending a friend request to the target on Facebook. They initiate a conversation and work on building a strong friendship with the individual. Notably, this technique tends to be most effective on Facebook users with limited education or older users who may not be as tech-savvy.

Once The Hacker has established a solid rapport with the target, they introduce a request for assistance. They explain that they are running a campaign and claim that Facebook will be sending verification codes to the friends selected for this campaign. The Hacker informs the target that they have been chosen to receive a code from Facebook and requests that the target forward the SMS code to them in order to facilitate the campaign.

The next step involves The Hacker logging into Facebook, selecting the “Forgot Password” option, and entering the target’s username. They then proceed to select the account linked to the target. The Hacker chooses the option to receive the code via SMS. Returning to their chat with the target, they inform the target that Facebook is in the process of sending out codes to selected friends. The target forwards the SMS code to The Hacker, who then uses it to gain access to the target’s Facebook account.

Password Guessing

Another popular method to hack a Facebook account password is simply password guessing. Password guessing is a straightforward method used by hackers, especially if they have some knowledge about the victim. They try to guess passwords by using common combinations such as “password123” or personal information like the victim’s name, birthdate, or pet’s name. Hackers may also use publicly available information from social media profiles to increase their chances of success.

Simple Methods to Stop Facebook Hack

According to Shilpa, stopping the Facebook hack is as simple as ABC.

Just don’t fall prey to any phishing link, and implement all the strategies I will explain

No matter how security conscious you are and the security measures taken, once you fall prey to a phishing or malware link, it is game over.

Here are some of the steps recommended to stop the hack of Facebook account passwords.

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication
• Use Strong and Unique Passwords
• Be Wary of Suspicious Links and Emails
• Regularly Update Your Devices and Apps
• Monitor Your Account Activity

By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of your Facebook account being hacked. Remember, protecting your personal information should always be a priority in the digital world.

Is Facebook Hacking Illegal?

Hacking into someone’s Facebook account without their permission is illegal. To hack a Facebook account password violates both Facebook’s terms of service and various laws related to unauthorized access to computer systems and personal data. Laws related to unauthorized access and hacking can vary by jurisdiction, but in general, gaining unauthorized access to someone’s online accounts, including their Facebook account, is considered a criminal offence.

Conclusion

Throughout this article, we have seen how the different methods used to hack a Facebook account password, including phishing, social engineering, and brute force attacks. We have emphasized the importance of strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and regular security updates to protect against such attacks.