Knowledge Library

Articles

Explore account recovery, cyber safety, platform security, and incident response guidance from Hacked.com.

Messaging account recovery with verification code prompt and linked device cleanup

Updated Mar 5, 2026

How to Recover a Hacked WhatsApp Account

Recover a hacked WhatsApp account by regaining control of your phone number, re-registering WhatsApp, removing linked devices, and handling two-step verification PIN lockouts safely.

Read article

Vishing call scenario with SSO login and MFA prompt, emphasizing call-back verification

Updated Mar 5, 2026

Vishing kits targeting SSO: how phone calls defeat MFA and take over accounts

Modern vishing is not just a script. Attackers use purpose-built kits and operator panels to steer SSO logins and MFA approvals in real time. Learn the immediate steps if you shared a code or approved a prompt, and the controls that stop helpdesk and MFA bypass attempts.

Read article

Realistic security analyst verifying an OAuth redirect chain on a laptop, with a suspicious final destination highlighted

Updated Mar 5, 2026

OAuth redirection abuse: why a real sign-in link can still lead to phishing or malware

Attackers can start with a legitimate OAuth sign-in URL and still redirect you to a phishing page or malware. Learn what to do if you clicked, what to check in your accounts, and how admins can harden OAuth app and consent controls.

Read article

Revoking authorized app access during chat account recovery after compromise

Updated Mar 5, 2026

Discord Account Hacked: How to Recover and Prevent Re-Entry

Recover a hacked Discord account by securing email first, resetting credentials, revoking authorized apps, scanning for malware, and using Discord's official support paths.

Read article

Reporting unauthorized financial account activity through an official resolution flow

Updated Mar 5, 2026

PayPal Account Hacked: How to Report Unauthorized Activity and Secure Your Account

Stop PayPal unauthorized activity by reporting it through official PayPal channels, securing the account and connected funding sources, and avoiding fake support-number scams.

Read article

Photorealistic traffic surveillance camera at a city intersection, representing contested sensors and telecom networks

Updated Mar 4, 2026

Israel-Iran cyber operations: the use cases that shape real-world strikes

How cyber operations reportedly supported the 2026 Iran strikes: sensor exploitation, telecom shaping, comms disruption, and influence through apps and broadcasts, with defensible evidence tiers and practical defenses.

Read article

Updated Mar 2, 2026

SIM Swapping: How It Works, Warning Signs, and How to Protect Your Number

SIM swapping moves your phone number to an attacker so they can intercept SMS recovery codes and reset accounts. Use this containment-first playbook to stop the cascade.

Read article

Updated Mar 2, 2026

Been hacked? Take these steps immediately

If you've been hacked, secure your email and phone control plane first, clean devices, remove attacker sessions, rotate passwords safely, enable stronger sign-in, and preserve evidence to prevent repeat compromise.

Read article

Updated Mar 2, 2026

Recover a hacked account when you cannot sign in: stabilize the control plane

Locked out after a takeover? Secure your email first, stabilize phone and devices, then use official recovery flows without adding noise. Remove sessions and harden to prevent repeat compromise.

Read article

Updated Mar 2, 2026

How to Recover a Hacked Instagram Account

If your Instagram was hacked, contain access first, then use official recovery options and harden your control plane so the account stays recovered.

Read article

Disabled Instagram account appeal and recovery concept

Updated Mar 2, 2026

How to Recover Your Disabled Instagram Account After a Hack

If Instagram disabled your account after a hack, treat it as enforcement plus compromise. Secure email and devices first, then use official appeal paths and keep your evidence consistent.

Read article

WhatsApp account security concept showing two-step verification and linked device hygiene

Updated Mar 2, 2026

How to Secure Your WhatsApp Account

Secure WhatsApp by enabling two-step verification, locking down your phone number with your carrier, pruning linked devices, and using a verification habit that makes code scams fail.

Read article

Removing a suspicious browser extension in a generic extensions settings page

Updated Feb 28, 2026

Malicious browser extensions: how they steal sessions and take over accounts

A malicious browser extension can steal passwords, session cookies, and email content. Learn how to remove risky extensions, revoke sessions, and recover safely without re-compromise.

Read article

Revoking a suspicious connected app permission in account security settings

Updated Feb 28, 2026

OAuth consent phishing: the quiet account takeover that survives password resets

OAuth consent phishing tricks you into granting a malicious app access to your account. Learn the fastest way to revoke connected apps, end persistence, and harden against repeat takeover.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to Secure Your Apple Account and Prevent Lockouts

A practical Apple Account security checklist: strong authentication, trusted devices, recovery options, device passcodes, and what to do if you suspect compromise.

Read article

Google on a mobile phone and a mac with coffee next to the comptuer

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to Secure Your Google Account

A practical Google Account security checklist: unique password, 2FA, recovery hygiene, device/session audits, third-party access review, and an incident plan.

Read article

“Hello Pervert” Pegasus Scam Gets Cruel With Pics of Your Home

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Hello Pervert Pegasus Scam With Home Photos: What It Means and What to Do

Got a "Hello Pervert" Pegasus email with a home photo? Treat it as sextortion theater. Preserve evidence, secure your inbox, and report safely.

Read article

tiktok app on a phone with USA and China flag

Updated Feb 27, 2026

TikTok Propaganda Risk: How to Reduce Manipulation and Protect Kids

Reduce propaganda and disinformation exposure on TikTok with Family Pairing, feed hygiene, account hardening, and simple verification rules.

Read article

2FA removed incident response with a 2D analyst in a hyper-realistic setting

Updated Feb 27, 2026

If 2FA disappears on X (Twitter): incident checklist and safer sign-in

If your two-factor authentication disappears or changes unexpectedly on X (Twitter), treat it as an incident. Secure email, clean sessions, and re-enable stronger methods.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How Ransomware Works and What Stops It

Ransomware is an outage and breach risk. Learn first-hour actions, common entry points, and controls like MFA and backups that change recovery outcomes.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to Remove Unwanted Pictures From X (Twitter)

Remove unwanted photos from X (Twitter) by preserving evidence, choosing the right report category, and using official privacy, intimate media, and impersonation reporting paths.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to stop location tracking

Reduce location tracking by removing app permissions, disabling precise location, auditing account-level sharing, and securing Apple and Google accounts. Includes steps for iPhone and Android.

Read article

woman with a smartphone being identified on camera

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to manage privacy settings for social media

A universal privacy audit for social media: reduce discoverability, restrict inbound contact, control tags and location, audit connected apps, and keep accounts secure so settings cannot be undone.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to Secure Your Facebook Account

Secure the control plane that protects Facebook: inbox, 2FA, sessions, and integrations. A containment-first playbook to prevent persistence and business asset loss.

Read article

Data Privacy Alert: Yango’s Transmission of Personal Information to Russia Sparks Concern

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Yango data transfer concerns: how to reduce location and identity exposure

Ride-hailing apps collect sensitive location data. If you are concerned about cross-border processing, use a minimization plan: restrict permissions, reduce routine signals, and harden identity recovery channels.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to Remove Copyright Infringement from Google

How to remove copyright-infringing material from Google results, what must be removed at the source, and how to file a clean, defensible complaint.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to remove images from Google Search: source removal, deindexing, and refresh

To remove images from Google Search, you usually must remove or restrict the source first, then use Google’s removal and refresh tools. Use this checklist to pick the right path.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

EA Security Incident: Player Account Safety Steps

After an EA security incident, phishing and credential-stuffing attempts spike. Secure your email, enable 2FA, harden linked platform accounts, and avoid fake support traps.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Remove Fake Profiles: A Monitoring and Takedown Playbook

Use a repeatable workflow to remove fake profiles and reduce impersonation: evidence packs, official reporting links, follow-ups, and prevention controls.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to hide old social media posts without breaking your account

Hide old social posts safely by exporting your data first, securing your account, using archive and audience controls, and removing high-risk identifiers without breaking access.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to wipe your social media data and reset your online presence safely

Reset your social media safely. Export your data first, secure your email and accounts, reduce visibility, remove high-risk posts and metadata, and avoid locking yourself out.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Deepfakes Explained: Why They Pose a Serious Risk

What deepfakes are, why they are dangerous, how they are used in scams, and the practical verification steps that keep you safe.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How AI Will Cause Havoc with TAIA

Targeted AI-driven scams are making impersonation, phishing, and fraud more convincing. Learn what TAIA means and the practical controls that stop it.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Pipeline cybersecurity rules after Colonial: what regulators now expect

After Colonial Pipeline, TSA issued and renewed cybersecurity requirements for designated pipeline operators and proposed broader cyber risk rules. Learn the operational expectations: reporting, 24/7 ownership, and baseline controls.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Facebook Customer Support Scam: Do Not Call These Numbers

Scammers pose as Facebook support through search ads and fake pages to get remote access, codes, or payments. Learn the red flags and containment steps.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How the Facebook Podcast Scam Can Crush Your Business

The Facebook podcast scam steals Meta business access through role and integration requests. Learn the red flags, containment steps, and official recovery paths.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to Check if Your Phone is Hacked

Do you know the signs of a hacked iPhone or Android phone? Learn what you should do if your smartphone is in fact hacked.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to deal with abusive fans: reduce contact, preserve evidence, and prevent escalation

A practical response plan for abusive fans and harassment: preserve evidence, tighten contact surfaces, protect account recovery channels, and escalate safely when needed.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to Stay Safe While Shopping Online? Check the Reviews!

Use a fast review and seller check to avoid online shopping scams: spot purchased reviews, verify storefront legitimacy, choose reversible payments, and harden your shopping accounts.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

The U.S. Has Become More Vulnerable to Hackers, According to Watchdog

GAO has treated federal cybersecurity as a high-risk area. Translate the systemic failure modes into a control-plane-first plan: identity hardening, owned exposure inventory, and tested recovery.

Read article

UK Proposed Changes to GDPR: How They Could Affect You

Updated Feb 27, 2026

UK GDPR reforms: what to watch and what to do in practice

A practical guide to UK GDPR-related reforms: what stays the same, what to review as a business, and how to reduce real-world harm after data exposure.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

What Does the Malwarebytes Hack Mean and Is Your Account Secure

Vendor breaches often lead to phishing and billing scams. See what Malwarebytes reported, what it implies for customers, and the practical checks to secure accounts and verify support requests.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Artificial General Intelligence is Upon Us, and it’s Time to Prepare

AI is improving fast, and that changes scams, impersonation, and fraud. Learn practical steps to prepare your accounts, data, and verification habits.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Bitcoin Hacker Who Breached Elon Musk & Bill Gates Gets 3 Years

An update on the Elon Musk/Bill Gates Twitter bitcoin scam sentencing, with practical anti-scam and account security lessons that still apply.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

When advanced tools leak: why patching, boundaries, and recovery still decide outcomes

Leaked offensive tools turn into mass exploitation when systems are exposed and patching lags. Use this boundary-first checklist to reduce blast radius and recover safely.

Read article

Nuclear Scientist’s 2015 Spear-Phishing Plot: A Key Moment in US Cybersecurity History

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Former Nuclear Scientist Spear-Phishing Plot: Defensive Lessons

A spear-phishing case study and a defensive playbook: reporting, containment, identity hardening, insider controls, and tabletop exercises.

Read article

The Surge in Hacked Gmail Accounts: A Growing Cybersecurity Threat

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Hacked Gmail Accounts: How to Recover and Prevent Re-Entry

Recover a hacked Gmail account by securing your Google Account control plane, removing attacker sessions and app access, and hardening recovery and sign-in.

Read article

Hong Kong Netizens Protest Internet Freedom Bill

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Hong Kong Netizens Protested an "Internet" Copyright Bill: Why It Mattered

How Hong Kong's 2014 copyright bill sparked protests and why policy shifts change online security risks, reporting abuse, and impersonation patterns.

Read article

Updated Feb 27, 2026

How to Recover a Hacked LinkedIn Account

LinkedIn takeovers become partner phishing fast. Secure email first, revoke sessions, restore profile integrity, and harden authentication so the account stays recovered.

Read article

Professional realistic scene representing investigation into a disputed crypto exchange hack

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Skepticism Grows Over BitGrail’s Supposed $167 Million Hack

BitGrail’s reported Nano shortfall became a case study in exchange failure and disputed attribution. Learn the red flags, what to do during withdrawal freezes, and how to reduce custody risk.

Read article