We can have many Internet accounts of social networks, forums and many other pages. But, what can happen if someone creates an account with our name and our data, as if they were really us? We are going to tell you what could happen and what you should do to avoid problems. The goal is to improve security and prevent issues that may compromise privacy. They could even compromise you on a legal level, since they are going to act as if it were you.
Mainly, we can see this type of problem on social networks. They are more likely to create an account with our name and profile picture. Platforms like Facebook or Instagram are two of the most used in this case. Therefore, it is convenient to be prepared to avoid suffering attacks of this type.
What happens if they impersonate your accounts
An account on the Internet, of whatever type it is, is not always what it appears to be. It is true that on some social networking platforms it is possible to verify the account, the truth is that most are not. This means that someone, just by knowing your name and having a photo of you, could create an Instagram account, for example. Logically we are facing a crime.
Reach your contacts
One of the hackers’ strategies when impersonating an account is to reach our contacts. The first thing they will be able to do is see information about these people, since many will have their private profiles and by adding an account from another, supposedly ours, they will be able to access that data.
When they have access to contacts, they can even interact with them as if they were us. They will be more likely to obtain certain personal data and even impersonate your accounts in the future.
Moral damages
Of course, they could cause moral damage. Simply by uploading compromising photos, posting controversial messages on social networks, generating disputes with other people… All of this can affect us and cause significant moral damage, even without our being aware of it.
Keep in mind that they could create a profile on a social network, such as Instagram, and make it open for anyone to see. Someone who knows us could search for our name and find that fake account created.
Commit any crime in your name
Here they might have the option to commit crimes on our behalf. For example, they could send malware to other people simply by sending a link or file. By being sent from an account that seems real, there would be more chance of the victim falling for the trap and making a mistake.
These crimes can be very varied and not just send malware. They could also send hate messages, insult other people, create threats… The range of options is really wide and they will do all of this under the guise of an account with the name of a person who has nothing to do with it.
What to do to be protected
But what can we do to prevent them from impersonating our accounts on the Internet? Something fundamental is to avoid leaking personal information. It is not advisable to give more information than is necessary. Do not post personal data publicly, such as on social networks or open forums, as they could be used to create accounts in your name.
You should also not fall into the trap of accepting unknown contacts on social networks and interacting with them. They could be bots, with the sole objective of obtaining information to later create a false profile with your data and everything they have been able to collect without you noticing.
Another key factor is protecting the equipment. We recommend installing a good antivirus, whatever the system you use, as well as having the device updated. With the latter you will be able to solve errors that may exist and prevent hackers from taking advantage of those problems.
As you can see, the impersonation of accounts on the Internet is a serious problem to take into account. It is essential that you take measures to avoid problems and properly protect the device. The goal is to keep accounts safe, have no security issues, and preserve privacy at all times.
