{"id":226798,"date":"2026-02-26T05:00:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T13:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=226798"},"modified":"2026-02-19T13:21:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T21:21:33","slug":"x-twitter-account-hacked-what-to-do-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/tips-tricks\/x-twitter-account-hacked-what-to-do-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"X (Twitter) Account Hacked: What to Do Right Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

X (formerly Twitter) hacks tend to hit fast.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One minute\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0scrolling like normal. The next, your account is posting crypto promotions, sending spam DMs, or following hundreds of random accounts\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0never heard of. Sometimes you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0even notice until a friend asks why\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0suddenly \u201cgiving away\u201d gift cards.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you use X for work, your personal brand, or your business, a takeover can do real damage quickly. And in many cases, the hacker\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0just trying to cause chaos,\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0trying to use your account to\u00a0scam\u00a0your followers while you still look trustworthy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This guide walks you through exactly what to do if your X account has been hacked: how to spot the warning signs, how to regain access, and what to change\u00a0immediately\u00a0so it\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0happen again.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0still locked out after trying these steps,\u00a0<\/span>X also offers an official support<\/span><\/a>\u00a0form for hacked or compromised accounts.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Signs Your X Account May Be Compromised<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

X account takeovers\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0always start with a full lockout. Often, the first signs are strange activity you\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0authorize.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch for\u00a0<\/span>these red flags<\/span><\/span>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unexpected posts:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Tweets you\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0write, especially spam, crypto links, or promotions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unusual DMs:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Messages sent from your account that you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0remember sending.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Account\u00a0behavior\u00a0changes:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Random follows, unfollows, blocks, or profile changes you\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0approve.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Security notifications:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Alerts from X that your account may be compromised.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Account info changed:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Notifications that your email, phone number, or password was updated without your permission.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Password suddenly stops working:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0prompted to reset your password even though you\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0request it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If any of these are happening, assume your account is compromised and start recovery steps\u00a0immediately.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What to Change Immediately If Your X Account Was Hacked<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

If your X account was hacked, assume your login details may have been stolen.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That means simply getting back into your account\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0enough,\u00a0you also need to update the passwords and settings attackers could still use.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s\u00a0what to change right away:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n