Guest Author
Your brand lives on social media. That’s also where it’s most at risk.
In 2024, over half of all companies (52%) were hit by a social media-related cyberattack. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter saw a combined 71 million incidents. And the trend isn’t slowing down. Phishing attacks are up 47%, and 16 billion usernames and passwords are expected to leak in 2025.
If hackers gain access to your accounts, they can get to customer data, personal details, direct messages, and even your banking details. All it takes is one weak password or a click on the wrong link over public Wi-Fi.
This article walks you through the most common security risks on social media platforms, the steps to protect your business social media accounts, and what to do if your team’s already been targeted.
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Short summary
- Most social media accounts are high-risk targets. Hackers often go after brand accounts to steal data, scam followers, or damage reputations. Even one weak password or fake link can cause major issues.
- Phishing and weak passwords are the main entry points. Most breaches happen because someone clicked a bad link or reused a password. Using strong, unique passwords and enabling 2FA makes a big difference.
- Limit who has access and what they can do on your social media account. Not everyone on your team needs full admin rights. Tools like SocialBee let you externalize specific roles such as publishing or replying to comments; so people only have access to what they need; helping you avoid cyber attacks.
- Old apps and forgotten logins are a problem. Connected apps can stay linked for years without you realizing. Regularly audit integrations and remove anything you don’t use.
- Security needs to be ongoing. It’s not a one-time setup. Keep your team educated, review access regularly, and treat security as part of your everyday social media work.
Why social media security matters for your brand
Social media is arguably your most valuable digital asset, not just for growth, but also for shaping the customer experience. And with major social media platforms being among the most public and immediate channels, even one negative post can damage your reputation fast.
So when your business social media accounts get compromised, it’s not just a tech issue. It’s a full-blown crisis that can put your entire brand at risk, especially if you don’t have a clear omnichannel CX strategy to manage customer interactions consistently across platforms.
Hackers can use your account to:
- Post false information or inflammatory content that sparks public backlash. When Jack Dorsey’s Twitter account was hacked in 2019, attackers shared offensive content, damaging both his image and the platform’s trust.
- Launch scams that target your followers. After compromising Vitalik Buterin’s account, attackers stole nearly $700,000 through a fake crypto giveaway, proving how easily social engineering attacks can trick people through social networking sites.
- Demand ransom to return control of your accounts or threaten to leak sensitive information.
- Hijack your ad account and run fake campaigns, draining your budget and exposing your financial information.
- Access private information from direct messages, shared files, or even banking details, especially if your team uses mobile devices or logs in through public Wi-Fi hotspots.
And that’s just the start. A breach can mean lost trust, lawsuits, data breaches, and sleepless nights.
Even worse, the damage doesn’t stop when you regain access. Fake posts spread quickly across social channels, and some people will continue believing them long after the cleanup. A strained digital footprint is not easy to fix. That’s why strong media security and proactive privacy options are essential.
Common threats to social media accounts
Most social media breaches come down to just a few weak spots. Whether it’s clicking a fake link, reusing passwords, or trusting the wrong app, the entry points are often simple (and avoidable).
Here are the biggest threats to your social media accounts:
- Phishing and social engineering
- Week password practices
- Insider threats
- Third-party app vulnerabilities
1. Phishing and social engineering
Most people picture hacking as complex code breaking into systems, but in reality, it’s often much simpler.
About 74% of social media account takeovers happen through phishing attacks and social engineering. That means tricking people into handing over their login credentials, often through fake links or messages.
These scams can show up as fake profiles’ giveaways, customer support messages, smishing, or fraudulent brand collaborations. They might arrive via email, SMS, DMs, or even phone calls, all designed to steal sensitive data or gain unauthorised access to your business social media accounts.
Take the example above: a fake email that looks like it’s from Facebook, claiming a post violated policy. It includes a link that looks legitimate, but clicking it could send your personal details or passwords straight to attackers.
Some phishing attempts go further, downloading malware on your devices that logs everything you type, like your banking details or social media login. Others direct you to third-party applications designed to look real but built to collect confidential information.
Tools like spam filters and email screeners can reduce these threats, but they’re not foolproof. The best defense is awareness, and making sure your team knows how to spot the warning signs.
2. Weak password practices
Weak password management is still one of the biggest security risks for brands on social media platforms. Many users reuse old passwords or pick simple ones that are easy to guess, like a pet’s name or “password123.” Only about 12% of people actually use a unique password for each of their social media accounts.
If one password gets leaked, bad actors can use it to access everything—from your direct messages and publishing privileges to banking details and sensitive information stored in third-party tools. Right now, more than 16 billion passwords are floating around the dark web. That’s why you should always check if your credentials have been exposed.
To stay ahead of these potential threats, your team should follow basic best practices like:
- Using a strong password with a mix of special characters, numbers, and capital letters
- Never reusing passwords across different accounts or devices
- Turning on multi-factor authentication wherever possible
- Avoiding password sharing across social media teams
- Updating passwords regularly, especially after a known breach
Hackers also rely on social engineering tactics, pulling personal info from public social networks to bypass weak security questions and trick users into handing over credentials.
3. Insider threats
Not everyone on your team may be as careful as they should be; and some may even pose direct security risks to your social media accounts. Former employees with lingering publishing privileges, disgruntled team members, or even accidental mistakes from trusted colleagues can all put your brand’s social media presence at risk.
Without proper security and privacy settings, insider threats can expose sensitive information, open the door for phishing attempts, or lead to loss of access altogether. That’s why it’s essential to instruct employees on media security best practices and revoke access immediately when someone leaves your organization.
4. Third-party app vulnerabilities
Your social media accounts are only as secure as the tools connected to them. Many social media platforms allow integrations with third-party applications (like scheduling tools, analytics platforms, and content creation apps) to streamline work. But if those online services aren’t secure, they introduce new security risks.
If a third-party app is compromised, bad actors may use it to trick users, hijack your accounts, or post online unauthorized social media content, sometimes without your team even realizing it.
In one case, several major brands had their social media posts tampered with after a third-party analytics tool was breached. The attack exploited a single weak spot in a connected service, proving how easily hackers can gain access through indirect channels. And we’re talking about popular online services here; so always better to be safe than sorry!
10 best practices for social media security you have to know
The truth is, you can’t completely secure your accounts. You only need to make breaking into your accounts hard enough that cybercriminals move to the next easy target.
Here are the top recommended steps to secure your accounts:
- Use strong, unique passwords
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Limit access to trusted team members
- Regularly audit connected apps and integrations
- Review security settings on each social platform
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi without protection
- Log out of accounts on shared or public devices
- Be cautious with direct messages and links
- Disable access when employees or agencies leave
- Educate your team on security best practices
1. Use strong, unique passwords
We get it, using one easy-to-remember password across your social media accounts feels convenient. But it’s also one of the biggest security risks out there. If that password gets exposed, bad actors can quickly gain access to all your connected social networks, tools, and even banking details.
That’s why you should use a password manager. It stores all your unique passwords securely, so you only have to remember one strong password, the one that unlocks the vault. These tools also help you generate passwords with special characters, numbers, and mixed case letters, keeping your social media presence more secure.
Password managers also reduce risk on shared devices and help prevent password reuse across different social media platforms, especially if multiple team members need access.
And if your team manages accounts from mobile devices or over public Wi-Fi, this becomes even more important.
Consider pairing your setup with identity theft or credential monitoring to stay informed if your login credentials or sensitive information are ever leaked. When it comes to media security, proactive steps like these go a long way.
2. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
Even the strongest password management habits aren’t enough on their own. To boost your social media security, turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. It adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a second step (like a code or token) before anyone can log into your social media accounts.
This means that even if bad actors manage to steal your login credentials, they still won’t be able to access your accounts without that second form of verification.
Most social media platforms now support 2FA via:
- SMS text messages
- Authenticator apps
- Hardware tokens like YubiKey
But not all options are created equal. Media security experts recommend using an app or token instead of SMS (especially if your team uses mobile devices or logs in from public Wi-Fi, where phishing attempts and SIM-swapping are bigger threats).
If your brand has multiple team members with publishing privileges, enabling 2FA helps you reduce security risks and control access to your social media presence across tools, third-party applications, and social media sites.
It’s a small step, but one of the most effective best practices for keeping sensitive information safe
3. Limit access to trusted team members
Assign permissions to your social media accounts based on job function. Facebook does an excellent job of breaking down permissions into very specific tasks, which include:
- Insights: Can only see how the page, content, and ads perform
- Ads: Create, manage, and delete ads
- Content: Create, manage, or delete posts, stories, and other content
- Community activity: Review and respond to comments
- Messages and calls: Respond to direct messages and make calls as the page
X allows you to assign “contributor” access for content creation and engagement with followers, while admins handle everything else, including analytics.
With LinkedIn, users can be either analysts, content admins, or a super admin with full control over the page.
Experts recommend having two people with full admin rights to add redundancy. This helps prevent lockouts and allows for two-step approvals for sensitive actions, like managing credit lines or removing admins.
Struggling to manage who has access to what across multiple social media platforms? It’s a common issue, especially for growing teams juggling multiple clients, channels, and content streams. Without clear access controls, you risk miscommunication, publishing errors, or worse, giving someone more control than they actually need.
Instead of relying on each platform’s individual permission default settings, SocialBee lets you centralize user management across your entire social media presence. Whether someone’s only scheduling posts, engaging with comments, or just reviewing analytics, you stay in control. And you can also leave notes to keep track of who edited what.
4. Regularly audit connected apps and integrations
Vet all third-party tools linked to your social media accounts and audit their access permissions regularly. Be especially cautious when using social media management tools, as they can be used to post content on your socials. You should prioritize well-known tools with a proven history of secure practices.
I reviewed my connected apps on X, and I was shocked to discover an app from 5 years ago with permission to read and write tweets on my profile.
Use Meta’s account manager to check and remove unnecessary app access for Facebook and Instagram. And here’s a detailed guide to do the same for LinkedIn.
Do a quick audit right now; you might be surprised by what still has access. Set a reminder to review your connected apps every quarter to keep your accounts clean, secure, and under your full control.
5. Review security settings on each social platform
Every major social platform offers a suite of built-in security settings, but most businesses don’t utilize them.
Facebook security features
- Login alerts – For personal accounts, Facebook notifies you when there’s a login attempt from an unrecognized device. For Business accounts, you get an alert for login attempts from new locations
- Overview of current active sessions
- Recent emails tab – In case someone is controlling your email account and has deleted security alert emails
- Overview of user activity – Like when someone was last active
- Security checkup – A quick check to determine you’re using a strong password, 2FA is enabled, and login alerts are activated
- Business account notifications – Receive alerts for any change to your Meta Business Manager account.
X security features
- Apps and Sessions – Check out connected apps, login sessions, account access history, and currently logged-in devices and apps.
- Password reset protection – Prompts for your phone number or email to reset password
- Login alerts – X will send a notification to the app or email if it detects a login attempt from an unrecognized device.
LinkedIn security features
- Active sessions to see where you’re currently signed in
- Devices that remember your password
6. Avoid using public Wi-Fi without protection
Unlike phishing emails, which require a user’s explicit action, public Wi-Fi attacks like Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) or “evil twins” can intercept data passively and invisibly, without any overt warning to the user.
In a MitM attack, an attacker positions themselves between the user’s device and the network, enabling them to intercept, eavesdrop on, or even alter communications without the user’s knowledge. In an “evil twin” attack, hackers establish rogue Wi-Fi access points designed to mimic the names of legitimate public Wi-Fi networks.
To stay protected, always use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when accessing business accounts from public places. A VPN encrypts your connection, so that anyone trying to intercept it will only get a scrambled mess.
A VPN will also come in handy if you have staff working from remote locations. Some businesses set up their own VPN servers, while you can also use dedicated software like MacKeeper for Mac or Nord VPN for Windows.
7. Log out of accounts on shared or public devices
Logging into brand accounts on shared devices, borrowed devices, or public computers opens the door to accidental exposure or even credential theft.
If it’s unavoidable, take the following precautions:
- Use incognito/private mode to prevent the browser from saving history or login info
- Never save passwords in the browser when prompted
- Always log out once you’re done
- Clear the browser’s cache and cookies before walking away
- Avoid clicking “Remember me” – this can keep you logged in even after closing the tab or browser
8. Be cautious with direct messages and links
Phishing isn’t limited to email. Attackers are increasingly using DMs on Instagram, X, Facebook, or LinkedIn to send malicious links disguised as customer inquiries, influencer requests, or even platform support alerts.
Like with phishing messages, watch out for threat actors such as DMs urging urgent action (“Your account will be disabled!”), or deals that sound too good to be true. As a general rule, when replying to community inquiries, never open links with unusual formatting or unfamiliar domains without verifying their legitimacy. The same applies to engaging with unknown other contacts.
9. Disable access when employees or agencies leave
Just like deprovisioning email or cloud access, social media offboarding should be a key part of your exit process. If possible, integrate it into your company’s broader offboarding system.
If you’re starting a SaaS company or working with freelance agencies, having a solid offboarding process as part of your security measures helps you stay in control of your digital assets as your team scales.
If you don’t have an automated offboarding software, maintain a checklist with a list of users, their associated apps, and the level of permission they have.
When someone leaves, revoke their admin roles, remove them from third-party tools (like social media managers or password vaults), and update any shared credentials they had access to.
Finally, audit access regularly. Ensure only current, authorized users and ad accounts are connected, and that each has the correct level of access.
10. Educate your team on security best practices
Saved this one for last because everything we’ve discussed can easily be undone if other users are unaware of the threats. That’s how you end up with users skipping 2FA because it’s an unnecessary hassle.
Everyone with access needs to understand the basics of account security, starting with the importance of strong password habits. They should also be trained to recognize phishing attempts and social engineering tactics, particularly those that exploit fear and urgency.
One of the easiest ways to get everyone on the same page is by recording training videos or create a quick webinar that walks through your company’s security protocols. This type of quick training programs makes the content accessible and repeatable, especially for new hires.
Also, make it easy for team members to report suspicious activity and foster a culture where security isn’t a blocker, but a shared responsibility. To seal it off, develop a comprehensive cybersecurity policy that outlines expectations for everyone with social media access.
What to do if your social media account gets compromised
Once hackers take over your account, their first move is usually to change the password and contact details. When this happens, you’ll normally receive a notification email. This is your best window to act.
Of course, make sure the email is genuine – it could be yet another phishing attempt. If it’s legitimate, use the link provided to recover your account as quickly as possible.
Next, secure your account immediately by following the steps we’ve outlined in the last section:
- Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Review all connected apps and users
- Log out of all devices
- Enable alerts for suspicious activity
Moreover, make a public update to inform your followers, in case the hackers had reached out to them with scam messages.
If hackers used your account to send scam links via email or direct messages, it’s a good idea to run your domain through a domain blacklist checker to ensure it hasn’t been flagged or added to spam blacklists.
Most importantly, investigate the source of the hack. Was it phishing? Reused passwords? A compromised device? Understanding how it happened is key to preventing a repeat attack.
If you missed the warning email or the recovery link expired, you’ll need to go through the platform’s identity verification process. This mostly works if you have pictures of yourself on the account and your account details match the information on your identity card.
Be warned, though, support from social platforms can be slow and inconsistent. Careful, in your desperation, not to fall for recovery scams from people claiming to be experts.
That said, there’s one unofficially documented tip that’s worked for some Meta users – filing a complaint through your state’s attorney general’s office. It’s worth trying if all else has failed.
Frequently asked questions
Make social media security a habit, not a one-time task
From phishing and weak passwords to insider threats and risky third-party apps, you are now well aware of the risks that threaten your social media security. The good news is you also know everything you need to counter these threats. Two-factor authentication, regular access reviews, user education, and strong password policies are your best defense.
And now with SocialBee, you have a tool that helps you streamline social media management while enhancing security. Your team members receive all the necessary permissions to perform their roles, but without any direct access to the account.
Ready to take control and protect your platforms the smart way? Start your 14-day free SocialBee trial!
