9 Effective Methods To Safeguard Twitter Account Against Hackers
Burker King, USA Today and Jeep have something in common. Their official Twitter accounts have been hacked. Twitter hacking isn’t new. It’s a phenomenon that corrupts the digital space.
You may think that your Twitter account is safe from unauthorized access because you’re not as popular as Kim Kardashian, Leo DiCaprio and other celebrities with official Twitter accounts. But you need to think again. This is because any account can be hacked, whether you’re popular or not, celebrity or just a regular dude.
In order to prevent Twitter account from being hacked, you need to put stronger security settings to your account. Apart from changing your 123456 password, you can use other security settings of Twitter to further secure your account and safeguard it against hacking.
Here are some tips to avoid your Twitter account from being hacked.
1. Change your password as often as possible.
If you could change it every day, then that’d be better. However, if it’s not possible, you could try changing it once a month or once every three months.
When changing a password, make sure that you choose a key that’s difficult for hackers to guess. It shouldn’t be a lame password that could get hacked without the use of a phishing scam. Guest123, pass and 123456 are a no-no in Twitter. You may check out a list of banned password and keep it in mind when you think of a new password for your account.
You should also make sure that the one you’re going to use is different from the password of your other accounts. If they’re the same, then the chances of your password being compromised would be greatly increased.
2. Get help in finding new password.
You can use the tools of some sites that can help you choose the right password that’s hacker-proof. Unfortunately, the password generator is too complex that even you may have a hard time remembering it. In that case, you need to write it down and place it somewhere where you can find it. This is after you’ve chosen a password that you want to use on your account.
3. Avoid third-party access
If you integrate a third-party app or game with your Twitter account, you’re allowing the app or game to access your personal information making you vulnerable to hacking. As much as possible avoid third-party access. If you can’t avoid it, you should at least limit it.
4. Don’t click on the links
Malware is not only limited to email. It could also affect Twitter. For that reason, it’s highly recommended that you avoid clicking on the links within your feed that you aren’t familiar with. Some of these links may contain malicious software. When you click it, you’re allowing certain app to be downloaded to your device silently. As a result, your account becomes vulnerable to unauthorized access.
With Twitter’s URL shortener, you can have an idea of what site you’ll be visiting when you click on a certain link.
5. Check the site first
Before you enter your username and password, you need to make sure that you’re at Twitter.com. The URL must be https://twitter.com. If it doesn’t have the https, then it’s most likely that you’re in a phishing site. And if you log in through that site, your username and password will be stolen.
6. Log out
Whether you’re using your own device or not, it’s important that you log out of Twitter after you’re through with it. This is especially important in case your phone or device gets lost or stolen.
7. Check your account frequently.
At least once a day, you should check and log in to your Twitter account. In this way, you’ll be able to identify whether or not there’s something funky going on within your feed.
8. Disable Java in your computer
When using your Twitter account, you must disable Java. According to the Homeland Security in the US, many hacking attacks have been caused by holes in JavaScript.
9. Integrate your mobile number
This is an additional security provided by Twitter. Apart from the text-based password, Twitter will send you a secondary password through the mobile device you’ve registered with your account.
- To register your mobile number, you need to log in to your Twitter account and access the Account Settings page.
- Choose the “Require a verification code when I sign in” option.
- Enter your email address and verified phone number.
- You must confirm that your phone can receive SMS from Twitter. A charge may apply each time you receive a confirmation message from Twitter.
On the other hand, if you’re Twitter account has already been hacked, you must contact the Support Center of Twitter. They can tell you what to do on how to regain access to your account.
By following the tips mentioned above, your Twitter account is now secure. You can also prevent your account from being hacked again.