6 Types of Social Media Attacks & How to Stop Them

Social media has become an essential channel for businesses. Businesses put around 8.7% of their total revenue towards social media ad budgets. CEOs and other executives are using social media as well to boost their personal and professional brands. Data shows that 7 out of 10 Fortune 100 CEOs have at least one social media account, and 48% post at least once a month. Approximately 43% of executives use social media daily. However, with increased usage comes higher risk.

To protect your brand’s reputation and prevent social media attacks, marketing leaders need unprecedented visibility into every corner of the internet so they can ensure every narrative builds trust in their brands and with their audiences. Understanding the types of social media attacks and how to reduce their impact is crucial for protecting executive brands and company brands. Discover five types of social media attacks and how you can prevent them.

Learn more: 12 Social Media Threats to be Aware of and How to Prevent Them

1. Deepfake profiles 

One of the most common types of social media attacks involves the creation of deepfake profiles. Cybercriminals create these profiles to impersonate legitimate users, often mimicking well-known public figures or executives within a company. These deepfake profiles are then used to manipulate stock prices, spread fake narratives, and deceive users into divulging personal information, clicking on malicious links, or engaging in fraudulent activities.

How to Protect Against It: To protect against falling victim to deepfake profiles, always verify the authenticity of a profile before engaging with it or responding to it. Use platform-specific verification tools to ensure the profile’s legitimacy and personally communicate with them if there is suspicion of fraud. Additionally, be cautious of unsolicited messages from unknown profiles, especially those asking for sensitive information or money transfers.

2. Compromised Accounts

Another prevalent social media attack is account compromise. When a hacker gains access to a legitimate account, they can post malicious content, spread malware, or impersonate the account owner to defraud others. High-profile executive and brands are often targeted due to their large followings, making the impact of such attacks more severe.

How to Protect Against It: Implementing strong, unique passwords and enabling Multi-factor authentication (MFA) are essential steps in securing social media accounts. Regularly monitoring account activity for any unusual behavior can also help in quickly identifying and mitigating a compromise.

3. Malicious Links and Content

Cybercriminals often use social media to distribute malicious links and content. These links may lead to phishing sites designed to steal login credentials or download malware onto the victim’s device. Such content is often disguised as harmless posts or messages, making it easy for unsuspecting users to fall into the trap.

How to Protect Against It: Never click on links from unverified sources to avoid falling prey to malicious links. Hover over links to see where they lead before clicking, and use antivirus software that can detect and block malicious URLs. Additionally, social media platforms often provide tools to report and block such content, helping to protect other users.

4. Social Engineering Attacks

Social engineering attacks exploit human psychology to manipulate individuals into revealing confidential information. These attacks often involve phishing attempts, where the attacker poses as a trustworthy individual or organization to trick the victim into disclosing sensitive data or performing harmful actions.

How to Protect Against It: Education and awareness are the best defenses against social engineering attacks. Regular training on how to identify phishing attempts and other social engineering tactics can empower users to recognize and avoid these threats. Always verify the identity of individuals requesting sensitive information and be skeptical of suspicious urgent requests.

5. Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance attacks involve cybercriminals gathering information about a target through their social media activity. This information, which can include personal details, relationships, and behaviors, is then used to craft more targeted and effective attacks, such as spear-phishing or identity theft.

How to Protect Against It: Limiting the amount of personal information shared on social media is a key strategy in preventing reconnaissance attacks. Adjust privacy settings to restrict who can view your posts and be mindful of the data you share publicly. Regularly review and update these settings to ensure they align with your privacy needs.

6. Narrative Attacks

Narrative attacks are designed to alter public perception, disrupt business operations, and erode trust in organizations, causing significant financial and reputational harm. The stakes are exceptionally high for executives and Fortune 2000 companies because they are often at the forefront of innovation and industry leaders. As a result, they are prime targets for narrative attacks that can quickly spiral out of control. That’s why the World Economic Forum named narrative attacks the #1 global risk in 2024.

How to Protect Against It: Detect, measure, gain context, and prioritize risks by understanding the narratives, the influence behind them, the networks the narratives touch, the anomalous campaigns that scale them, and the cohorts that connect them.

Blackbird.AI for Marketing Leaders

Social media attacks are a growing threat, with cybercriminals constantly developing new tactics to exploit these platforms. By understanding the different types of social media attacks and implementing preventative measures, organizations can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to these malicious activities. Staying informed and vigilant is essential in maintaining security in the ever-evolving world of social media.

You can protect your brand from narrative attacks with Blackbird.AI for marketing leaders. Manipulated information can become viral instantly, spreading false narratives about product defects, nefarious executives, or untrue stories about your environmental or social impact stance. Blackbird.AI offers AI-based technology and expert consultation to guide marketing leaders through narrative risks and into a place of proactive protection, preparation, and confidence. See a demo now.