The consequences of a hacked account are terrifying. However, where there is a problem, there is a solution. So, if you suspect suspicious activities and believe that your Snapchat account’s integrity is compromised, read on as we have a look at all the ways you can use to recover a hacked Snapchat account.
A hack can occur due to a multitude of reasons. Maybe your password wasn’t strong enough or you clicked on a malicious link that collected and sent your account information. Or maybe a third-party account with ties to your Snapchat account fell victim to hacking and its issues spilled over to your account. Whatever the case, you can use the following ways to recover your hacked Snapchat account.
1. Use Forgot Password to Recover Account
Snapchat’s forgot password feature can help you regain access to your account even after the password has been changed. This can be helpful if you’ve noticed suspicious login activity and want to change your account’s password or simply want to recover your Snapchat account. Follow the below steps to do it.
Step 1: Open Snapchat.
Step 2: Here, enter your email ID or username. Then, click on Next.
Tip: You can also click on the use mobile number option to sign in using your mobile number.
Step 3: Then, click on Forgot Password.
Step 4: Select the option you want to use to verify your identity.
Step 5: Then, enter your email ID and click on Submit.
Step 6: This will send a password reset link to your email address. Click on the link and reset your password accordingly. Alternatively, if you’ve chosen your phone number, you will receive a verification code. Once you enter the code, you can change the password of your Snapchat account.
2. File a Report to Snapchat
The forgotten password option is only available if your email ID or mobile number is still associated with your Snapchat account. However, there have been instances where hackers have removed and replaced the login information with their own. This means that despite having a valid account, Snapchat might end up showing you there is no account available for your mobile number or email ID.
If this happens, you can submit a report to Snapchat’s support team to start the process of recovering your account. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open Snapchat’s support page.
Step 2: Scroll down and click on ‘My Account Is Compromised’.
Step 3: Here, select the option that applies to you.
Step 4: Then, scroll down and fill out the form. Make sure to enter the details relevant to your Snapchat account. Be as descriptive as possible when describing the situation.
Step 5: Once done, click on Submit.
This will submit the request to the Snapchat support team. Once it reviews the case, it will either get back to you with a relevant solution or might ask for more details to help you in recovering your account.
Apart from changes in your login details, changes in your account can also help you check if your Snapchat account has been hacked. If that is the case then, after changing the account password, you can proceed to contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to submit a report.
The FTC is set up with the singular goal of protecting consumers from activities that can harm them, be it unfair trade practices or consumer fraud. So, if your Snapchat account has been hacked, report this instance to the FTC.
Depending on the severity of your situation, FTC might either provide you with advice on how to protect your account or ask you to report the incident. Here’s how to access and use the FTC’s website.
Step 1: Go to the Federal Trade Commission’s website.
Step 2: Here, click on Get Started.
Step 3: Then, click on ‘Someone has my information or tried to use it, and I’m worried about identity theft’.
Step 4: Here, select ‘Online login or password’. Then, click on Continue.
Then, follow the on-screen instructions to provide more information about the situation and, if required, submit a complaint to the FTC. You can also use FTC’s Chatbot to seek resolution for issues that might not have been available in the recovery options.
4. Consult a Legal Professional
While it might seem like a long shot but if someone contacts you claiming to have your personal information, it is highly advisable to seek consultation from a qualified legal professional.
Once hackers gain access to your account, they might be able to see sensitive account information that can leave you vulnerable. This can include photos, videos, personal chats, etc. A legal professional can help you understand how to fight against and protect yourself from the hacker.
For more information on this, you can also check out Snapchat’s support page explaining in detail how they work with law enforcement to help ensure user safety.
If you remember sharing the link or other information of your social media accounts while using Snapchat, it is highly advisable to change the password and, if available, even the ID of that account.
This can help protect it from hackers, who might unwittingly end up gaining access to it through hacking your Snapchat account.
If you found out a little late about your Snapchat account being the target of hackers then, apart from changing the ID and password, you can monitor the activity in your other social media account as well. If nothing appears out of place, chances are those accounts are safe.
Tips to Protect Your Snapchat Account in the Future
If you were able to gain access to your Snapchat account, it is better to take precautions to prevent the same from happening in the future. Here’re a few things to consider:
- Use a strong password
- Add your email ID and phone number to your Snapchat account
- Enable two-factor authentication for Snapchat
Tip: Check out these best two-factor authenticators for iOS and Android.
FAQs for Recovering a Hacked Snapchat Account
While adding unknown users has no effect on hackers gaining access to your account, it is advisable to only add known users, as your friends can gain access to your user information. This can leave you vulnerable to hacking if the users in your friend list are not trustworthy.
Yes, you can delete a Snapchat account. Go into your account settings and submit a request for account deletion. After 30 days from the request of such deletion, Snapchat will delete your account.
Recover Your Account
So, these were all the ways to recover a hacked Snapchat account. Going forward, it is always good to exercise caution and ensure this does not happen with other accounts as well. To make your Snapchat more secure, consider changing your account settings to stop random people from adding you on Snapchat.
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