Account hijacking is a type of cybercrime in which a user’s account credentials are stolen and used to gain unauthorized access to a system or network. It is also known as social engineering or cyber-attacks. Account hijacking often involves using a stolen username and password or a malicious software program (malware) to gain access to a user’s account.
In the digital era, accounts are used for a variety of purposes, and thus, account hijacking is a serious issue. Platforms like social media, online banking, and other sites collect personal information, passwords, addresses, and credit card numbers. Criminals can use this information to access user accounts, leaving users open to identity theft and financial losses.
One of the most common methods of account hijacking is phishing. Phishing is a cyberattack technique used by malicious actors to collect personal user information by sending fraudulent emails or text messages. Phishing attacks typically contain links to malicious websites or attachments, which can install malicious software or steal user information.
Another method of account hijacking is keylogging. Keystroke logging is a type of malicious software that records all of the keys that the user presses on the keyboard, including usernames and passwords. This data can then be used to gain access to the user’s account.
Account hijacking is an important issue that needs to be addressed. To protect against it, users should be cautious when opening emails or clicking on unknown links, be aware of suspicious activity on social media accounts, and use two-factor authentication. It is also important to regularly update security passwords, use strong password complexity criteria, and use password managers to store user information.
