Short answer: you can’t legally hack someone else’s Facebook account, and any website, app or “hacker” offering to do it for you is almost certainly a scam. Getting into an account that isn’t yours is a crime in most countries, and Facebook has strong protections that ordinary tools can’t get past.
So why do Facebook accounts still get hacked every day? Because hackers rarely “break” Facebook itself. They trick the account owner. In this guide, we explain how that actually happens, so you can recognize the tricks and keep your own account safe.
Is It Legal to Hack a Facebook Account?
No. Logging into someone else’s account without their permission counts as unauthorized access, even if you know the person, even if you only “want to check something,” and even if you never change anything. It also breaks Facebook’s Terms of Service, so the account you use for it can be permanently banned.
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Here is what the law says in a few countries:
| Country | Law | Possible penalty |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) | Fines and up to 10 years in prison for some offenses |
| United Kingdom | Computer Misuse Act 1990 | Fines and up to 2 years in prison for unauthorized access |
| Canada | Criminal Code, Section 342.1 | Up to 10 years in prison |
Most other countries have similar cybercrime laws. “I didn’t know it was illegal” is not accepted as a defense.
Why “Facebook Hacking Tools” Are Always a Scam
If you search for a way to hack Facebook, you will find websites, YouTube videos and Telegram groups promising instant access to any account. None of them work the way they claim. Here’s what they really do:
- “Online hacking tools” ask you to complete a survey or download an app. The survey earns the scammer money, and the app often installs malware on your phone or computer.
- “Hire a hacker” services take your payment and disappear. Some go further and threaten to report you unless you pay more, because they know you can’t go to the police.
- “Password finder” apps steal your own login. Many ask you to sign in with your Facebook account first. That’s how they take over your account instead.
In other words, the person most likely to get hacked is the one searching for a hacking tool.
How Facebook Accounts Really Get Hacked
Knowing the common methods is the best way to protect yourself. Almost every hacked account comes down to one of these.
1. Phishing: Fake Login Pages
You get a message like “Your page will be deleted in 24 hours” or “Is this you in this video?” with a link. The link opens a page that looks exactly like Facebook’s login screen, but it’s a copy. Whatever you type goes straight to the attacker.
How to stay safe: Before typing your password, check the address bar. Real Facebook pages are on facebook.com or m.facebook.com, not look-alikes such as “faceb00k-support.com” or “meta-appeal.net.” We cover more examples in our guide to Facebook account recovery code phishing.
2. Fake “Meta Support” Messages
Page owners and advertisers are popular targets. Scammers send messages claiming to be Meta’s copyright or policy team and ask you to “appeal” through a link. Meta does not contact you through Messenger chats from random accounts.
How to stay safe: You can check whether an email really came from Meta. Go to Settings > Accounts Center > Password and security > Recent emails. If the email isn’t listed there, it’s fake.
3. Reused or Weak Passwords
When another website is breached, the leaked email and password lists get sold. Attackers then try the same combinations on Facebook. If you use the same password everywhere, one leak opens every door.
How to stay safe: Use a different password for Facebook than for anything else. A password manager makes this easy.
4. Malware and Fake Apps
Cracked games, “free followers” apps and browser extensions that promise extra features can quietly record what you type or copy your login session. Once an attacker has your session, they may not even need your password.
How to stay safe: Install apps only from the official Play Store or App Store. Remove browser extensions you don’t recognize.
5. Social Engineering Through Friends
A friend’s account gets hacked first. Then “they” message you asking for a code that was “sent to your phone by mistake.” That code is actually your own login or recovery code.
How to stay safe: Never share a code sent to you by Facebook, with anyone, for any reason. If a friend asks, call them to check. Also learn how to spot fake profiles on Facebook.
How to Protect Your Facebook Account: Step-by-Step
These steps take about 10 minutes and block almost every attack described above.
Turn On Two-Factor Authentication
With two-factor authentication (2FA), a stolen password alone is not enough to log in. The attacker would also need your phone.
- Open Facebook and go to Settings & privacy > Settings.
- Tap Accounts Center.
- Select Password and security > Two-factor authentication.
- Choose your account and pick a method. An authentication app (such as Google Authenticator) is safer than SMS.
- Save the backup codes somewhere safe, offline.
Use a Strong, Unique Password
Long passphrases are stronger and easier to remember than short complicated ones. Something like “blue-river-tea-window-42” is much harder to guess than “Ab@123.” You don’t need to change it on a fixed schedule. Change it right away if you think it has been exposed.
Turn On Login Alerts
Go to Accounts Center > Password and security > Login alerts. You’ll get a notification whenever someone logs in from a new device, so you can react within minutes.
Check Where You’re Logged In
Under Accounts Center > Password and security > Where you’re logged in, you can see every active device. Log out of anything you don’t recognize.
Run Facebook’s Security Checkup
Facebook has a built-in Security Checkup in the same Password and security section. It walks you through weak spots in your account in a few taps.
Keep Your Email Account Secure Too
Your email is the master key. Whoever controls it can reset your Facebook password. Turn on 2FA for your email as well. If your email has been compromised, see our guide on what to do when a Gmail account is hacked.
Warning Signs Your Account May Be Hacked
- You get an email saying your password or email address was changed, and you didn’t do it.
- Friends receive messages or posts from you that you never sent.
- You see logins from devices or locations you don’t recognize.
- You’re suddenly logged out and your password no longer works.
- New ad campaigns or charges appear in your ad account.
What to Do If Your Facebook Account Is Hacked
- Go to facebook.com/hacked from a device you trust. Facebook will guide you through securing the account.
- If you can still log in, change your password and log out of all other sessions.
- Check your email and phone number on the account, and remove anything the attacker added.
- Turn on two-factor authentication as soon as you’re back in.
- Warn your friends not to click links or send money in response to messages from your account.
For a detailed walkthrough, read what to do if your Facebook account is hacked. If you run ads, also see how to recover a hacked Facebook ad account.
Need Access to an Account? Here Are the Legal Options
Many people search for “how to hack a Facebook account” for an understandable reason. Here is what to do instead:
- It’s your own account and you’re locked out: Use Facebook’s official recovery at facebook.com/login/identify. Never pay a “recovery service.”
- A family member has passed away: Facebook lets you request to memorialize or remove the account through its Help Center.
- You’re worried about your child’s safety: Talk to them and use Meta’s Family Center supervision tools, which work with their knowledge.
- Someone is harassing or blackmailing you: Report the account to Facebook, keep screenshots, and contact your local police or cybercrime unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you hack a Facebook account with just a phone number or email?
No. Websites claiming to do this are scams. A phone number or email alone does not give anyone access to an account protected by a password and two-factor authentication.
Are Facebook hacking apps real?
No. These apps either don’t work or are designed to steal your own information, money or login details.
Can I get in trouble just for trying to hack an account?
Yes. In many countries, attempting unauthorized access is itself an offense, even if you don’t succeed.
Can Facebook recover a hacked account?
Yes, in most cases. Start at facebook.com/hacked as soon as possible. The faster you act, the easier recovery usually is.
What is the single best way to protect my account?
Turn on two-factor authentication with an authenticator app, and never share login codes with anyone.
Final Thoughts
There is no safe or legal shortcut into someone else’s Facebook account, and the “tools” that promise one usually target the person using them. The good news is that the same knowledge works in reverse. Once you know how hackers operate, a strong unique password, two-factor authentication and a healthy suspicion of urgent links will keep your own account safe.
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