Picture this:

You're sat at your computer screen, innocently scrolling through your facebook newsfeed. It's been a fairly uneventful day in the social media world. Petty statuses revoking friendships burst onto your screen in various shades of disgust while others declare their love of food you discovered a decade ago. Every now and then a video of a kitten tripping over a step surfaces; you'll 'LIKE' that later.

Suddenly an insulting post pops up in your notice box declaring some form of hate. You realise you know the person who posted the status. Yet they aren't the ones who uploaded the status and, no matter how many times they delete the incriminating status, they keep popping up.

The evidence is blaringly obvious; they've been hacked.

Hundreds of people every year fall victim to hackers. Before the birth of social media, hackers would force themselves into your computer to stealing important files and passwords. These days hackers have evolved to target your social media.

It seems nobody is safe from the villainous hackers. Last month Eddie Izzard sent out a tweet stating:

 "Eddie's Facebook has been compromised. FB is working on resolving ASAP. Please disregard all FB posts today. Thanks - The Beekeepers".

This sucks. You never expect a complete stranger to take over your social media. When it happens hundreds of questions surface. How long have they been in your computer? How did they get in? How can you get them out?

Well worry no more, there are a few simple, easy ways to help prevent your social media from getting hacked.

Protect Your Information

One way a hacker can access your computer is through your own email. If you've lost your password, one way you can access your social media is by supplying your email address as verification; so it's important you don't give it away!

• Have a separate email for your social media account. This way spam emails you might get from your main account won't be able to send any corrupt links to you.
• Keep your email address off of your social media profile page (they can't use what you don't give them!)

Password Protect

One main way a hacker can change your digital life is by getting your password correct. There are a number of ways you can prevent this from happening.

• Change your password regularly
• Make your password difficult (don't use names, dates or places easily related to you)
• Install a password manager (these automatically fill in your password for you, preventing hackers from copying what you type)
• When choosing a question and answer for your password, make sure it's really difficult (that last thing you want is for somebody to reset your password)

Fortify Your Computer

Fortify your computer with virtual walls, locks and chains preventing the cookies and viruses from getting into your computer.

• Regularly update your software
• Use a firewall
• Install web-security and anti-virus software

As the leading IT support in London we know how important protecting your computer is. If you would like to know more about how we can help you protect your computer, contact us today on 0844 939 0333 and our dedicated team will be happy to help!