Tech World
How to Secure Your LinkedIn Account and Prevent Hacking Attempts
Like other social media platforms, Microsoft’s LinkedIn is frequently targeted by hackers. One common method hackers use to gain control of your LinkedIn account is by sending a connection request.
When you receive a LinkedIn connection request notification, curiosity often leads you to check out the sender’s profile. The profile appears legitimate, featuring a professional photo, a listed location, educational background, current job details, and relevant LinkedIn posts. Everything seems perfectly normal.
After accepting the connection request, you might later discover that you’ve been locked out of your LinkedIn account. Without having enabled two-factor authentication (2FA), a cybercriminal can easily take over your account.
The hacker retrieves your login credentials and changes the password. They might alter your professional details, remove or retain your contacts, and send suspicious messages to your connections, exploiting your authentic-looking profile to deceive others.
To safeguard your LinkedIn account, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) is essential.
Here’s a simple guide to activating 2FA via the LinkedIn app:
- Open the LinkedIn app on your phone and navigate to your feed.
- Tap your profile picture in the top left corner.
- In the sidebar, select ‘Settings’ at the bottom.
- Go to ‘Sign in & security’.
- Select ‘Two-step verification’ and toggle it to On. Choose your preferred method to receive the verification code.
Once 2FA is enabled, LinkedIn will send a verification code to your phone via SMS each time someone attempts to log into your account from any device, adding an extra layer of security.
What to Do If Your LinkedIn Account Gets Hacked
If your LinkedIn account is hacked and you haven’t enabled 2FA, you won’t be able to log in to activate it. In such cases, contact LinkedIn support using this link to create a support ticket. You can do this from any device, without needing to be logged into your account.
Stay vigilant and secure your LinkedIn profile by enabling two-factor authentication today.
