Did a random person recently add you on Snapchat, and you’re wondering whether or not they’re able to hack your account just by adding you?
It’s important to be mindful of your account’s security, so this is an excellent question.
In this article, I’ll be covering how Snapchat accounts get hacked, whether someone who adds you is able to hack you, and what you can do to keep your Snapchat account secure.
Let’s get to it!
Can Someone Hack Your Snapchat By Adding You?
No, it is not possible for someone to hack your Snapchat account through adding you alone. The person would need to gain access to your account login information, such as your email and password.
That being said, many people are added by random strangers on Snapchat, and end up being hacked shortly after. This is because these hackers are great at getting you to give up your password to them without you realizing it, through a complicated process called phishing.
We’ll talk more about how Snapchat accounts get hacked in just a moment.
For now, the important thing to keep in mind is that nothing bad will happen to your account just by adding someone – it is impossible for them to hack your Snapchat account just by adding you.
Here’s How Snapchat Accounts Actually Get Compromised
While adding people is safe, the real trouble begins after you’ve accepted their friend request.
This is because hackers will usually start messaging you shortly after, now that they know their messages go through. From there, it is easy to get tricked without realizing it.
So, let’s look over the shady tactics hackers actually use to obtain your Snapchat login information.
1. Phishing Links
This is one of the most popular ways that Snapchat accounts get hacked – especially after being added by random people that you don’t know.
Essentially, the person will send you a link, that you will tap on to open. When you do, you’ll see a page that looks like it’s from Snapchat, requiring you to login to continue.
The only problem is, this page is completely fake!
While you believe that you’re signing back into Snapchat, what’s really happening is that the information you type is being sent directly to someone else, with malicious intent.
Then, they will later use that information to login to your Snapchat account themselves – often to start spamming or scamming your friends.
So, never enter any login information after clicking a link from a stranger, or even any suspicious links from friends that you know.
2. Compromised Devices
Another common way that Snapchat accounts get hacked, is through compromised devices.
This is most common when logging in either on an Android phone, or on a Windows PC, both of which are more prone to viruses.
That being said, viruses on Android are still quite rare, especially if you only download apps that can be found on the Google Play store.
In any case, if your device is infected, it’s possible that everything you type is being sent to someone else.
So, if you type in your login information, this can be stolen and used to take over your Snapchat account.
3. Data Breaches On Other Services
In addition to phishing, data breaches on other websites / services are the most popular way accounts end up getting hacked.
After all, think about it this way – if you use another service that experiences a data breach, your login information (such as your email or password) for that service will be stolen.
If you use the exact same email and password for Snapchat, it would be trivial for someone to try it out, and take over your account even if you do nothing else wrong.
You can check if your email has been part of any data breaches using HaveIBeenPwned.com.
Data breaches are inevitable at some point, so the key takeaway is this – never reuse the same password across multiple websites!
Instead, I recommend using a password manager like LastPass to generate and store different passwords for each service that you sign up for. Even though all of your passwords are being kept within one app, it is still a lot safer than reusing the same password across multiple websites, apps or services!
Futher Reading: Is Have I Been Pwned Safe To Use?
4. You Willingly Give Your Login Information Away
Finally, the last primary way accounts get hacked is because you willingly gave your login information away.
Someone who is determined to get into your account will say anything they need to in order to convince you to let them login. However, this is always deceitful.
Once they have your login information, it is likely they will change your password, stop talking with you, and do what they can to prevent you from regaining access.
Nobody should ever ask for your Snapchat login information – including anyone pretending to be Snapchat staff!
How To Keep Your Snapchat Account Secure
We’ve touched on a few points already, but let’s cover a bit more on what you should do in order to keep your Snapchat account secure.
First things first, never open any suspicious links from strangers. At best, you’ll gain nothing from doing so and at worst, you put your account at risk.
Secondly, never type in your login information unless you are resigning into the actual Snapchat app for the first time, directly after opening it. There is never a situation where you’ll need to type your login information after you’re already signed in.
If you’re unsure, delete the app from your phone completely, and reinstall it – this should be the only legitimate time when you’ll need to sign back in. And don’t worry, all of your memories will still be there.
Next, never reuse the same password across multiple websites, and pay particular attention to your email. If someone has access to your email, they can use this to reset many of your other passwords.
Finally, enable two-factor authentication right now for your Snapchat account. This will require a code from your phone in order for people to sign into your Snapchat account, which makes it almost impossible to hack – even if someone has your password!
Two enable two-factor authentication, follow these steps:
- Visit your Snapchat profile.
- Tap on the gear icon to open Snapchat’s settings.
- Tap on ‘Two-Factor Authentication.’
- Follow the on-screen instructions. I recommend using an authenticator app like Google Authenticator over SMS, because it’s more secure.
If you follow these security practices, it will become nearly impossible for your Snapchat account to ever get hacked!
Conclusion
Thankfully, you don’t need to worry about your Snapchat account being compromised just by someone adding you – it is impossible for your Snapchat account to be hacked this way.
However, you will want to be mindful of any interactions you have with recently added strangers. Avoid clicking on any links, or sending your login information to anyone.
I hope that this article has eased your concerns. If you have any other questions about Snapchat, please ask them using the comment form below.
Wishing you the best,
– James McAllister