Snapchat Users Subjected to Malicious Phishing Attack

As social networks have expanded into our lives, we reveal more about our personal lives on the internet than ever before. Hackers looking to steal your personal details can now turn to common platforms to watch what you’re doing. But when merely observing isn’t enough, a cybercriminal may aim to take over your account. Developing more advanced and sophisticated scams, Snapchat users were recently hit with a ploy that walked away with over 50,000 separate logins.

Read More: 5 Things You Should Never Post on Social Media

While it’s ideal that to keep an eye out for these attacks, it also helps to have someone watching your back. dfndr security offers an Anti-Hacking feature that any Android user can quickly take advantage of. The anti-hacking technology scans and blocks potential malicious links that may appear on your smartphone. This ability means you can enjoy Snapchatting with a bit less worry.

However, there are additional steps you can take to ensure that not only your Snapchat account is secure but also your other social media accounts remain safe online.

Keep an Eyebrow Raised For Phishing
While there isn’t a desire to instill paranoia, there’s a need to acknowledge that hackers and scammers are continually using phishing techniques to steal information. In the recent Snapchat attack, users received messages from other compromised users that asked them to look at a link. Once the link was clicked on, a fake Snapchat login screen opened and prompted users to enter their login information. This scam allowed hackers to walk away with thousands of usernames and passwords.

Always be cautious when clicking any links. If you aren’t sure where they are headed – it might be best to stay away. If you do click through to a website that asks for your login information, check the address bar by tapping on it with your finger. You can then examine it to ensure the site is authentic and not a phishing scam.

Never Go Without Two Layers of Defense
Most social networks, including Snapchat, now offer the ability to enable two-factor authentication on your account; this means even if a malicious individual steals your password, they would be prompted to enter a unique one-time code to log in. This one-time code is typically texted to your smartphone, so they would never receive it. Enabling two-factor adds another layer of security to your online life and verifies that you’re identity when logging in to an account.

Take Back Your Account
Sometimes, even with the best of intentions, we find ourselves victimized by hackers. You may notice your social account has been compromised if your friends receive weird spam-like messages from you or you get alerts that someone is attempting to sign in from a different location. With Snapchat specifically, only one device can be logged in at a time, so you’re always being prompted to login when using the app, it may be a sign that someone else has been there.

Snapchat advises all users to take the first step of changing your password as soon as you believe your account has been compromised. Also, verify that your email address and mobile number on file are up to date. Lastly, remember to turn on that two-factor authentication, doing that small gesture will keep you snapping in safety for a long while.