Hacking Spotify accounts. Ways to protect your account
Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services, with more than 380,000,000 users who actively use the platform, as well as more than 170,000,000 users who use a paid subscription. That is why Spotify is one of the most attractive objects for hacker attacks. Every day, hundreds of Spotify users are subjected to hacking their accounts, without the possibility of return. This is why this article was created - to show you possible threats, as well as ways to protect your data and accounts.
Why do hackers hack on Spotify accounts at all?
There are several reasons why hackers hack accounts, and here are the main ones:
- Selling: there are a sufficient number of platforms on the Internet for selling and buying stolen accounts (for some people, this is a way to save money on buying a Spotify Premium subscription);
- Fake broadcasts: another option for using stolen Spotify accounts;
- Boosting plays: for not very popular authors, this is one of the options for promoting their person, and subsequently increasing their earnings.
There are several reasons why hackers hack accounts, and here are the main ones:
- Selling: there are a sufficient number of platforms on the Internet for selling and buying stolen accounts (for some people, this is a way to save money on buying a Spotify Premium subscription);
- Fake broadcasts: another option for using stolen Spotify accounts;
- Boosting plays: for not very popular authors, this is one of the options for promoting their person, and subsequently increasing their earnings.
How are Spotify accounts hacked?
- Compromising passwords: The simplest and most frequently used method of stealing accounts. This method involves trying to use data stolen from other sites / services as credits. Using the same logins and passwords for different services and websites, you risk becoming a victim of a hacker attack.
- Unofficial clients: Often, in an attempt to avoid paying for Spotify Premium, people start downloading third-party software. However, in most cases, these applications are designed to steal your personal data. That is why we always recommend using only official Spotify sources.
- Programs for hidden tracking of keystrokes: Such programs are also called keyloggers (the name speaks for itself) - programs that allow hackers to see everything you type with your input device. Thus, intruders can gain access not only to your Spotify account, but also to much more. How to avoid getting into this situation, we will consider further in the article.
- Theft of cookies: Cookies are small files that store small pieces of data (including data needed to log into an account), which are located in your browser. Having access to your device, a hacker can make a copy of them, and thereby gain access to your Spotify account. One of the ways to get your cookies is to install untrusted extensions/applications in your browser using unofficial sources.
- Phishing: Phishing is a fairly common method of hacking both Spotify accounts and many other things. Attackers send you messages/emails, etc. that look like they were sent officially on behalf of the service, but in fact they are fake, and direct you to a site that looks exactly like Spotify, where you are asked to enter your credentials. Subsequently, having your data, hackers can use it at their own discretion. Further, this article will tell you how to avoid and protect yourself from phishing.
- Brute-force attack: Brute-force method, or as it is also called Bruce-Force method, means that the hacker uses enumeration of all possible combinations of characters to select the correct password. This method is the least effective, as hacking can take a lot of time. To avoid such a hacker attack, use long and complex passwords, avoiding commonly used words or phrases.
How to detect if your Spotify account has been hacked?
Detecting one or more of the following may mean that your account has been hacked and you need to urgently take protective measures:
- Interruption of streaming track listening or track change without reason;
- Listening history does not match the tracks you have listened to;
- Library and playlist changes without your knowledge;
- Notifications from Spotify about logins from unknown devices;
- Connecting another Facebook account to your Spotify account;
- Changing the email address linked to your account;
- Cancellation of a paid subscription;
- You cannot log into your Spotify account.
Detecting one or more of the following may mean that your account has been hacked and you need to urgently take protective measures:
- Interruption of streaming track listening or track change without reason;
- Listening history does not match the tracks you have listened to;
- Library and playlist changes without your knowledge;
- Notifications from Spotify about logins from unknown devices;
- Connecting another Facebook account to your Spotify account;
- Changing the email address linked to your account;
- Cancellation of a paid subscription;
- You cannot log into your Spotify account.
What to do if you find out that your Spotify account has been hacked?
If you have absolutely no access to your Spotify account, you must immediately contact Spotify support. But if you can still log into your account, you still have a chance to get it back. To do this, follow the instructions below:
- 1. Change your password: Go to the password reset form. In addition, change the password for all services and sites associated with the account that was hacked.
- 2. Logout everywhere: Go to the Logout page of your account and log out on all devices where you were logged in.
- 3. Remove access to utilities: Remove access to your Spotify account for all related services, sites, utilities, etc. (especially those you no longer use)
- 4. Scan your device: Scan your device for the presence of various third-party software, such as malware / keyloggers
- 5. Remove extensions: Remove suspicious or unused extensions from your browser
- 6. Recover data: If your data has been deleted or something similar (albums, playlists, or other music items), you can restore it.
If you have absolutely no access to your Spotify account, you must immediately contact Spotify support. But if you can still log into your account, you still have a chance to get it back. To do this, follow the instructions below:
- 1. Change your password: Go to the password reset form. In addition, change the password for all services and sites associated with the account that was hacked.
- 2. Logout everywhere: Go to the Logout page of your account and log out on all devices where you were logged in.
- 3. Remove access to utilities: Remove access to your Spotify account for all related services, sites, utilities, etc. (especially those you no longer use)
- 4. Scan your device: Scan your device for the presence of various third-party software, such as malware / keyloggers
- 5. Remove extensions: Remove suspicious or unused extensions from your browser
- 6. Recover data: If your data has been deleted or something similar (albums, playlists, or other music items), you can restore it.
How to avoid hacking your Spotify account?
- Use only official sources and software: Quite often, hackers create and use such unofficial enterprises to steal your data.
- Do not trust your account to anyone: Even if it is a member of your family or a very close friend, you should not trust them with your personal account, as there is a possibility of becoming a victim of fraudsters, even if this happens unintentionally. For this, there are separate types of Spotify subscriptions: Duo and Family. This way, you can save on buying Spotify Premium for everyone and at the same time keep your account safe.
- Take care of the security of your password:
- The password length is 12 characters or more. With each added character, the probability of hacking your password decreases significantly;
- Use different types of characters. These can be uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, special characters. The more diverse the characters you use, the more secure your password;
- Do not use primitive or frequently used words, symbols, numbers, phrases that are quite easy to hack;
- Do not use personal information. Your birthdays, first and last names, usernames, phone numbers, and so on are quite easy to guess;
- Do not use symbols that follow each other on the keyboard;
- Use different passwords for different services and websites.
- Use password managers: To avoid having to remember a lot of different and very complex passwords, there is a solution - using a password manager. One of the main advantages is that you can synchronize all your devices with each other, and by saving the password on one of the devices, you can always access it on any of them.
- Use only personal devices: Using public devices can lead to a leak of your data.
- Periodically review your email inbox for notifications from Spotify about logging into your account from another device: If you notice something like this, but it does not apply to you, immediately take all necessary steps to ensure the security of your account.
- Log out of your account before selling any devices associated with it.
- Be careful with various links, notifications and letters: Always check that they are sent officially from the service, located on the official domain, etc.
- The password length is 12 characters or more. With each added character, the probability of hacking your password decreases significantly;
- Use different types of characters. These can be uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, special characters. The more diverse the characters you use, the more secure your password;
- Do not use primitive or frequently used words, symbols, numbers, phrases that are quite easy to hack;
- Do not use personal information. Your birthdays, first and last names, usernames, phone numbers, and so on are quite easy to guess;
- Do not use symbols that follow each other on the keyboard;
- Use different passwords for different services and websites.
Unofficial services, websites and software
When using unofficial products, always be careful, as in some cases you can become a victim of hackers. Let's consider the issue of third-party products accessing your account in more detail.
The mechanics of third-party software working with your Spotify account:
Spotify allows third-party websites and applications to interact with the service. This is done in order to provide users with advanced functionality that is not available on the service itself. One of these services is SpotiPie, which allows you to see statistics on your account both in default and interactive form.
In order to ensure the reliability and security of such interaction, Spotify adheres to the OAuth standard. Instead of the usual input of your data, it uses a redirect to the official website of the service, or to a special application for login. After you connect to your account, you must confirm that you allow this software to use your Spotify account. In this method, you do not directly give your credits, which ensures the security of your account. In addition, you can prohibit software access to your account at any time.
Three options for granting access to your account to third-party software
- 1. Viewing data;
- 2. Viewing activities;
- 3. Performing actions on your behalf.
The most dangerous access to your Spotify account is the last one, since with this level of access, a third-party website or application has the ability to perform actions on your account without your knowledge, so be careful when granting permissions at this level.
When using unofficial products, always be careful, as in some cases you can become a victim of hackers. Let's consider the issue of third-party products accessing your account in more detail.
The mechanics of third-party software working with your Spotify account:
Spotify allows third-party websites and applications to interact with the service. This is done in order to provide users with advanced functionality that is not available on the service itself. One of these services is SpotiPie, which allows you to see statistics on your account both in default and interactive form.
In order to ensure the reliability and security of such interaction, Spotify adheres to the OAuth standard. Instead of the usual input of your data, it uses a redirect to the official website of the service, or to a special application for login. After you connect to your account, you must confirm that you allow this software to use your Spotify account. In this method, you do not directly give your credits, which ensures the security of your account. In addition, you can prohibit software access to your account at any time.
Three options for granting access to your account to third-party software
- 1. Viewing data;
- 2. Viewing activities;
- 3. Performing actions on your behalf.
The most dangerous access to your Spotify account is the last one, since with this level of access, a third-party website or application has the ability to perform actions on your account without your knowledge, so be careful when granting permissions at this level.