In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in cyber attacks on social media platforms, and Facebook is no exception. Unfortunately, institutions are also at risk, as we have seen in a recent incident where cybercriminals have hacked Kabarak University’s Facebook Page.
The university’s Facebook page was managed by the institution who were responsible for posting updates about events, announcements, and other news related to the university. However, on May 6th the university reported that their Facebook Page had been hacked.
The university assured the general public that necessary measures were being undertaken to solve the issue. The hackers then from a post shared demanded a ransom of $500 in exchange for returning access to the Facebook page.
This incident highlights the importance of cybersecurity for institutions, especially those that use social media to communicate with their stakeholders. Institutions need to take steps to protect their social media accounts, such as using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and limiting access to only authorized staff members.
In addition, institutions should have a backup plan in case their social media accounts are compromised. This may include having a secondary communication channel or having a team trained to manage crises and respond to cyber attacks.
Finally, institutions should be aware of the risks of paying ransoms to hackers. While paying a ransom may be tempting to regain access to critical data, it can also encourage further attacks and fund criminal activity. Instead, institutions should work with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to recover their data and prevent future attacks.
