• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

The Social Media Hat

Always On Top Of Social

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Digital Marketing
    • Social Media Articles
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • LinkedIn
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
    • Social Media Tools
    • Virtual Events
  • Marketing Resources
    • Newsletter
    • The Virtual Event Strategist Podcast
    • Marketing Hyperdrive Podcast
  • GET HELP
    • Virtual Event VIP Strategy Day
    • Virtual Event Consulting
    • Social Media Planner
  • About
    • Mike Allton, Virtual Event Consultant & Speaker
  • Search
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Digital Marketing
    • Social Media Articles
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • LinkedIn
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
    • Social Media Tools
    • Virtual Events
  • Marketing Resources
    • Newsletter
    • The Virtual Event Strategist Podcast
    • Marketing Hyperdrive Podcast
  • GET HELP
    • Virtual Event VIP Strategy Day
    • Virtual Event Consulting
    • Social Media Planner
  • About
    • Mike Allton, Virtual Event Consultant & Speaker
  • Search

HootSuite Reports Account Hack Attempts, Takes Steps

You are here: Home / Social Media Articles / HootSuite Reports Account Hack Attempts, Takes Steps

August 21, 2013 //  by Mike Allton

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Yesterday afternoon, I noticed something odd. I use HootSuite not only for myself, but for many of my social media marketing clients, and am often logged into multiple HootSuite accounts using several different web browsers. When switching back and forth between accounts to post updates and monitor activity, I kept having to log back in. Not only that, I was being asked to complete a CAPTCHA form, and then verify my account using Twitter or a code sent via email. When Twitter authentication continued to fail, I opened Twitter directly in a new tab and headed over to HootSuite’s support account, @HootSuite_Help.

Turns out it wasn’t just me.

Many HootSuite users were reporting issues, and the fine folks at @HootSuite_Help were responding to them all, explaining that the HootSuite team was working on addressing some performance issues, while at the same time, working to implement some security changes. After a short while, performance returned to normal, with a few changes.

According to a blog post by HootSuite, they had begun to see an uptick in the number of unauthorized login attempts. It seems that hackers had obtained username and password combinations from other websites, and were using those to try to login to HootSuite. In other words, the hackers were hoping that HootSuite users were using the same email and password combination that they’d used on other websites.

Fortunately, the hackers were met with very limited success, but HootSuite obviously determined that additional steps were needed. They began to implement additional security precautions to help protect user accounts. Now, all HootSuite users will need to authenticate their account by confirming via Twitter or Facebook authentication, or providing a code sent via email. What this does is ensure that whomever is logging must also have access to the user’s email or a social network, therefore reducing the likelihood that a hacker will be able to get in.

HootSuite has also begun tracking your IP Address in order to determine the location you’re using to login. If you login from a new location, or your IP address changes, you will need to authenticate your account once more. That way, if someone else manages to obtain your username and password, they’ll presumably be at a different location, using a different IP address, and will have to authenticate their access before they will be able to successfully log in.

Why all the fuss? Because most of us have 4 or more social networks connected to our HootSuite account. If that account is compromised, the villain will be able to monitor our social media activity and post on our behalf. The damage starts at potentially embarrassing and gets worse from there.

Account Precautions

HootSuite seems to be doing a great job of taking steps to protect our accounts from malicious hackers, but it’s not all on them. Each of us needs to take some basic precautions to protect ourselves.

  1. Do not use the same password for multiple accounts.
  2. Use strong passwords that include mixed case, numbers and special characters.
  3. Do not share your passwords with other people.

Also, make sure that you’re regularly monitoring your outgoing messages and posts so that if one of your accounts were to be compromised, you’ll notice it right away.

If you are having issues recieving the email verification code, here are some suggestions from HootSuite to make sure you get it.

If you have any questions or concerns about HootSuite, or would like help getting set up to manage your social media activity, please feel free to contact me. Larger corporations should strongly consider commissioning a Social Media Audit where we can review not only social media strategy, but also the security of your accounts and internal social media policy.

Related

Category: Social Media ArticlesTag: Hootsuite

About Mike Allton

Mike Allton is a Content Marketing Practitioner – a title he invented to represent his holistic approach to content marketing that leverages blogging, social media, email marketing and SEO to drive traffic, generate leads, and convert those leads into sales. He is an award-winning Blogger, Speaker, and Author, and Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse.

Mike is a Virtual Event Consultant and has partnered with Jenn Herman, Stephanie Liu, Amanda Robinson and Eric Butow to write Ultimate Guide to Social Media Marketing published by Entrepreneur Press.

Free Virtual Event Webinar

10 Benefits of Virtual Events for SaaS Brands
Hosted by  Mike Allton
Most people are hesitant to try virtual events because they don’t understand all the benefits. They think it’s just a webinar or a conference call, but there’s so much more that can be done! 10 Benefits of Virtual Events for SaaS Brands is the answer to your questions. In this webinar, Mike Allton will teach you everything you need to know about virtual events. You’ll learn how to make them work for your company and get everyone on board with the idea.

Join The Community!

17 savvy marketers sign up every day to get the latest social media insights and ideas.


Previous Post: « Buffer Adds Google Plus Page Support
Next Post: How the Digital Age has Shaped Communication Management »

Primary Sidebar

LISTEN to The Virtual Event Strategist Podcast

Virtual Event VIP Strategy Day

Meet Mike

Mike Allton is a Virtual Event Strategist, and an award-winning blogger, speaker, and author at The Social Media Hat, where he has been educating businesses and organizations on the best use of content marketing for reaching and converting target audiences. Mike is proud to serve as the Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse, where he builds relationships with influencers and brands around the world.

Since 2012, Mike has has spearheaded hundreds of live shows and virtual events, reaching tens of thousands of potential customers on behalf of represented brands. He has established a reputation for being able to explain complex tools or topics in easy to understand ways, all while bringing a necessary sense of overall brand strategy and business purpose.

Featured Posts

Virtual Event Strategist Podcast background

Introducing The Virtual Event Strategist Podcast by Mike Allton

May 4, 2022 //  by Mike Allton

Learn what this podcast is about, and who it’s for!

Virtual Event Backup Plans

Always Have A Virtual Event Backup Plan

June 1, 2022 //  by Mike Allton

Season 01 Episode 05 of the Virtual Event Strategist Podcast

Virtual Event Mental Health

Maintain Mental Health While Planning Virtual Events

June 8, 2022 //  by Mike Allton

Season 01 Episode 06 of the Virtual Event Strategist Podcast

More Like This

  • How To Plan A Virtual Event Successfully
  • How To Make Money With Virtual Events
  • Stay Calm And Virtual Event Plan On

Footer

Recent Posts

  • What is WCAG, and Why is it Important?
  • What Else Can You Do With A Virtual Event Platform?
  • How to Maintain Audience Engagement after a Successful Virtual Event
  • How Do You Determine Virtual Event ROI
  • How To Plan A Virtual Event Successfully
  • How To Make Money With Virtual Events
  • Stay Calm And Virtual Event Plan On
  • How Influencer Marketing Managers Can Stay Efficient in a Competitive Space

Key Topics

Agorapulse Bing Blab Blogging Buffer Business Canva Content Marketing Easil Email Marketing Evernote Facebook Google+ Holidays Hootsuite Influencer Marketing Infograph Instagram Klout LinkedIn Live Video Marketing Meerkat Mobile MySpace Pinterest Podcast ROI SEO SnapChat Social Media Marketing Social Pulse Summit Strategy Tailwind Triberr Twitter Video Vine Virtual Event Plan Virtual Event Planning Virtual Event Speakers Virtual Event Strategy Yahoo Yelp YouTube
  • Home
  • Virtual Event Strategy
  • Mike Allton, Virtual Event Consultant & Speaker
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

Site Footer

The Virtual Event Strategist Podcast

  • Listen on Apple
  • Listen on Spotify
  • Listen on Amazon
  • Listen on Stitcher
  • Social Media Articles
  • Digital Marketing Articles
  • Social Media Tools & Resources
  • Virtual Events Articles
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 The Social Media Hat · All Rights Reserved