How to Avoid Account Hacking

How to recognize an attack How criminals steal data How to protect your account What to do if you open a malicious link

Now that we handle most of our finances online, often with nothing but our smartphones, all sorts of wrongdoers target us to steal our money. After reading this article, you will learn:

How to recognize an attack.
What methods hackers use to steal data.
How to protect your account from hackers.
What to do if you fall prey to hackers.

How to recognize an attack

You’ve probably received a message from a friend asking to borrow money, and it turned out that the friend’s account on Telegram or WhatsApp had been hacked. While all financial service providers, including online brokers, use advanced account protection tools, it is still important for users to learn to recognize an attack when they are targeted.

The general rule is to suspect fraud whenever anything unusual happens.

You get an email or a message asking you to click a link or open an attachment.
A person or a company chooses an unexpected way to communicate with you. For example, you get a message from a friend on Telegram even though you usually talk on WhatsApp.
You are asked to update some financial information. You may be pressured to do it right now. Urgency is a common trick fraudsters use.
You are offered money (a bonus, a refund, etc.), but first, you are pushed to provide some data to receive it.
The email does not include your name. Instead, the sender uses “Hello dear” and other generic greetings.

These are all common red flags that should make you think something suspicious is happening. If you notice any of the things listed above, you should be very careful not to fall victim to one of the widespread attacks described below.

How criminals steal data

Phishing

Phishing aims to steal users’ data, such as email addresses, passwords, full names, and bank details. Attackers trick people into providing this information in phone calls or text messages or by filling out online forms.

You may receive a message from a person or company you know, with a convincing story, and click a link. The link may install malware on your device or bring you to a page where you will enter your data without realizing you are sending it to thieves.

Credential stuffing

This popular type of cyberattack relies on automated tools that use leaked usernames and password combinations on various websites.

Since most people reuse their credentials on multiple platforms, attackers often manage to access accounts using these tools. Additionally, regular database breaches make thousands of accounts available to fraudsters.

Brute force

A brute force attack is a form of hacking that involves guessing a password for a username through trial and error. This attack is considered outdated, but it is still pretty popular.

How to protect your account

Use the tools provided by your broker

No broker wants their users’ accounts to be compromised, so they implement various protection measures. You may want to learn what security tools are available before you decide on a broker to trade with.

Here are some factors you want to consider when registering with a broker.

Evaluate the broker’s reliability. It is better if a broker is well-known in the industry, and you can easily find reviews posted by other traders.
A broker must be licensed.
A broker must have a website with all the information you need to make a decision: trading conditions, licenses, policies, contacts, etc.
A broker should have a technical support service you can contact when you need help via the channels you are comfortable with.

Protection measures offered by FBS

You can easily browse the protection measures in place at FBS by browsing the broker’s website:

FBS is a global brand that has all the necessary licenses and regulations.
FBS uses encrypted channels and web application firewalls to help prevent attacks. The company does not store user account passwords or banking information and only uses official channels for communication.
FBS performs external vulnerability scans with approved scanning vendors to ensure transaction safety.
FBS emails only come from our official domains, like [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].

What to do to protect your account

Even the most sophisticated tools will not help protect your account if you violate some basic security rules yourself. Here are 14 things you should never forget to protect your account.

Pay attention to important system notifications delivered to your inbox. This is how you may learn about suspicious login attempts or other events requiring your attention.
Never click any suspicious links or download unrequested attachments. Do not trust people claiming to be broker employees or offering signal bots on discussion forums. Those files may contain malware. Avoid downloading any APK files from Telegram or YouTube.
Never enter personal information on websites you are not entirely certain about.
Use strong passwords and never reuse them across different sites. Use a password manager instead of text notes.
Only trust official communication channels. FBS employees never send links or attachments with promotional offers in personal messages. FBS representatives will never ask you to provide account information, such as your password or confirmation PIN, in a private message.
Install antivirus software and update it regularly.
Regularly install all security updates and patches for your device’s operating system.
Regularly monitor activities in your banking applications.
Ensure you have access to your recovery methods (email, social networks, phone number, devices).
Avoid using third-party devices to access your account. If absolutely necessary, do so in incognito mode.
Never ask anyone to access your FBS Trader Area using your credentials.
Never leave your Trader Area open when your device is unattended. Log out or lock the screen.
Only provide your identity documents to institutions that need them for legitimate reasons.
Never share the email address or mobile phone that you use to receive verification codes. Never share your PIN or transaction confirmation codes with anyone.

What to do if you open a malicious link

Even if you tend to be careful and are mindful of security most of the time, you can still click a malicious link accidentally. Like, for example, if you receive it from a friend’s hacked account and don’t realize the account is hacked. Unfortunately, this happens to the best of us. Is there anything you can do now?

Install antivirus software and scan for viruses.
Reset all your passwords.

These measures will help you determine the damage and prevent further losses. Take the time to fix the damage and turn this experience into a lesson you will remember for the future.

Share with friends:

Open an FBS account

By registering, you accept FBS Customer Agreement conditions and FBS Privacy Policy and assume all risks inherent with trading operations on the world financial markets.