Social media is a hub for entertainment, communication, and information distribution. Many people get their latest scoop on world events from tweets or Facebook posts. Thus, the increased dependence on social media has been undeniable.
However, social media has always been an attractive target for cybercriminals. After all, social media accounts contain various personal information, like private chats with friends and family. Social media account takeovers can also open venues for hackers to distribute fake messages to victims’ friends. A new threat has also surfaced called social media account cloning, which could mean that someone has secretly created an account in your name.
What Is Social Media Account Cloning?
Contrary to popular belief, cloning an account is relatively easy. You can impersonate anyone online if you possess enough personal data about them. Social media account cloning entails using someone else’s name and identification online.
Usually, hackers use a slight variation in the username and the same picture they have on that profile. Depending on the case, a person can have multiple clones of their social media accounts. It’s more of a problem with accounts that don’t have a verified check mark or handle next to their account name.
Social media cloning is dangerous, and many other malicious activities make it possible. For instance, data breaches might reveal many personal details used for cloning. Furthermore, scraping personal data can allow hackers to obtain information quickly.
Potential Harms of Cloned Accounts
An account cloned in your name can cause several issues. A few notable ones include the following.
- The person can use your likeness to ask for money or personal information from your known friends and relatives.
- They can post illegal or embarrassing content in your name, ruining your reputation online.
- Cloned accounts can send viruses or other harmful software to your connections.
- Someone can clone your account and start a fundraiser or a pyramid scheme in your name.
- They can shut down your legitimate account on the platform by claiming they’re genuine.
Tips For Preventing Social Media Account Cloning
Now that you’re aware of the various dangers of cloned social media accounts, look at the practical measures you can adopt to avoid them.
Keep Your Private Information Secure
You need not post every little detail of your personal life online. That’s something that scammers count on to gain information regarding your account. Thus, it helps to refrain from sharing too much information. Only post your vacation photos when you’ve returned, and never mention personally identifiable data such as phone numbers and addresses.
Check Periodically for Cloned Accounts
Every few weeks or so, it helps to browse the platform to examine whether there are other accounts in your name. Try searching variations with your name and online ID to see if someone else is trying to clone your account. If you’re lucky, you can catch the culprits before they’re able to make adequate connections. Report them and ensure that cloned accounts get deleted.
Use a VPN
Hackers can obtain information through unsafe Wi-Fi networks or website visits. Luckily, a VPN for PC can prevent this from happening by encrypting your online traffic. That means you will still get robust data encryption even if you use unsafe networks or HTTP websites. A Virtual Private Network also changes your IP address, stopping IP-based tracking.
Verify Your Account
If you have a large enough following, most social media platforms can let you verify your account, making it impossible for anyone to impersonate you. However, the method can vary in effectiveness with the platform.
Recently, Twitter introduced a policy of blue checkmarks that you could buy for $8 per month. Trolls and criminals exploited the feature to impersonate significant corporations, leading to various scams and duplicate accounts.
Use Unique IDs and a Strong Password
Another way you can restrict access to your profile is by using unique IDs and strong passwords. Instead of your real name, choose a nickname that only those close to you can identify. In the case of passwords, you must utilize lengthy strings involving numerals, alphabets, and special characters.
Have a Backup Account
Regardless of how many measures you apply, there is always a chance that your social media account can get compromised. Thus, it helps to have a backup account ready. You can let it remain dormant and only inform your friends and family about it. That way, they know to redirect their communication should you detect clones of your main account.
Short Summary
Social media account cloning is a scourge for most online platforms. Yet you can protect yourself from harm by using all the methods mentioned above. Keep in mind that the security of your account is your responsibility. You can’t trust corporations for it, and you must report immediately should you find cloned accounts of your loved ones online.
