Facebook is receiving 'News of Death,' clicking on the link will result in the ID being hacked.

 Facebook is receiving 'News of Death,' and clicking on the link will result in the ID being hacked.

Facebook(Getty)

 Facebook has recently alerted users about a link on Messenger that is related to a scam or phishing activity by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States. The link, primarily used for scamming or fraudulent purposes, is being sent to Messenger users. The link is accompanied by a message asking about the person who has passed away and whether the recipient knows them. This link is limited to Messenger and can come through email or other mediums. Additionally, many Facebook users' bank account information is being compromised through hacking.

However, these messages are not being sent from unfamiliar accounts. They are being sent from the hacked accounts of familiar individuals, primarily to send this type of message from their own accounts. When someone clicks on the link to see, they are directed to a Facebook login page. However, this page is not the actual Facebook login page but a fake login page created by hackers or scammers. As a result, if someone logs in through the link, the hacker or scammer obtains their Facebook username and password. This type of hacking is known as "phishing."

 Just as a fishing net is used to catch fish, the same concept applies to "phishing" in this context. In other words, an online trap is set to hack into a Facebook user's account. Phishing is primarily done through a fake website. A hacker uploads a page on a web hosting site that looks exactly like Facebook's login page.

Later on, the hacker sends the link to various people through this website. Often, the hacker uses Facebook Messenger to send it to others. Users may click on it and see what they believe to be Facebook's login page, thinking that their Facebook account has been logged out for some reason. If someone logs in through this page, their Facebook username and password are stored in the database of the deceptive website. Consequently, the hacker gains control over their Facebook account.

In the FBI alert, it has been stated that cybercriminals have become more skilled in spreading malware. Therefore, internet users need to be cautious before downloading anything by clicking on it.

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Scamwatch, Australians have reported losing more than $100 million to fishing scams in 2023 alone. In 2022, Scamwatch received 74,567 reports of fishing scams, resulting in a total loss of $2.46 million.

Ways to stay safe from hacking:

Avoid clicking on links:

 One should be cautious about clicking on links received from unfamiliar sources. Often, these types of hacking links are received from unknown email IDs or from unknown people on Facebook. Many times, various websites also provide such links. It is important to be cautious and avoid clicking on such links if the website is not trusted.

Verify the link: 

Not all hacking links come only from unfamiliar sources. If someone's Facebook account is hacked, the hacker may send such links from that person's account. In such cases, it is advisable to carefully check the link. For example, if someone sends you a link through Messenger that appears to be a link to a Facebook post, but upon reading the link, you notice that it says 'Facebook' or 'Facebook' dot com, then you should ignore that link. It has been designed to trick you into thinking that the link will take you to a Facebook-like page to capture your information.

Enable 'Two-Factor Authentication' on Facebook: 

If you have 'Two-Factor Authentication' enabled on your Facebook account, even if a hacker knows your username and password, they won't be able to cause any harm to your account. When a hacker tries to log in using your username and password, Facebook will prompt them to enter a 'verification code' on a new webpage. That code will primarily be sent to your phone number. Without that verification code, no one else will have access to your Facebook account.

Often, many people can understand that they have been sent a 'phishing' link. They may click on the link out of curiosity, thinking that no harm will be done if they don't log in. However, this is a misconception. Hackers often inject malware into their websites. If you enter such a website by clicking on the link, the virus will spread to your device, and the hacker will gain control over your entire device.

'Phishing' is used for Facebook hacking and can be used to hack any social media platform if users are not cautious.