Spotify is a popular streaming platform that has millions of users across the globe, and chances are that you are one of them. Even though Spotify takes user security seriously, hackers often target user accounts. Here we will dive into this situation – from taking preventive measures to ward off hackers to dealing with a situation where your account might have been compromised.
Why Do Spotify Accounts Get Hacked?
There are several reasons hackers are on the lookout to hack Spotify accounts like yours-
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- Use the premium features of your Spotify premium account without spending a penny.
- Sell your account credentials to someone else at a lower price, especially on the dark web.
- Lock you out of your Spotify account.
- Steal your financial details like bank account number, credit/ debit card details, etc.
Recently 14000 accounts belonging to Spotify podcasters were caught in a data leak. There also have been incidents where the accounts of popular artists have been hacked. And it’s not just the accounts of popular artists or podcasters that get hacked. Hackers also pounce upon normal users. In 2020, 350000 Spotify accounts were involved in credential stuffing attacks.
Things You Should Do To Steer Clear Of Threat Actors
Defense No. 1 – Choose a strong password. Here a password manager like TweakPass can be of great help. It is one of the best password managers armed with AES encryption technology.
Why Use TweakPass?
- Easy setup
- Lock all passwords behind a secure vault.
- Lets you generate strong passwords.
- Availability on all platforms – Windows, Android, iOS, Mac, and as a browser extension.
- Create secure notes.
Defense No. 2 – Do not share your account credentials as far as possible.
Defense No. 3 – Install Spotify from official channels and not from other sources.
Defense No. 4 – If you suspect your device is attacked by malware, instantly bring an Antivirus into force. Searching for options? Here is a list of some of the best Antivirus for Windows that are lightweight and identify and remove malicious threats in real-time.
What To Do If Your Spotify Account Is Hacked?
The first thing is to ascertain if your Spotify account is hacked. Sometimes, it might look as if your account is not hacked, but in reality, it is. From finding out if your account is hacked to taking the necessary steps, we’ve broken things down into parts:
How To Ascertain That Your Spotify Account Is Hacked?
Several instances may indicate that your Spotify account is hacked –
- You cannot log into your Spotify account.
- You see unusual activity in your app’s Recently Played
- There are changes in your subscription settings.
- You see third-party apps connected to your account that you didn’t connect to.
- There are changes in your playlists.
Now, here are things you can do if your Spotify account is hacked.
1. Check Account Information
If you notice any of the above instances and can access your account, first, check your account information –
Step 1 – Log into your account and click on your profile icon at the top right corner.
Step 2 – Click on Account.
Step 3 – Check the Account overview and see if your email address is changed. In case it has, immediately report this to Spotify’s support team.
2. Check Receipts and Subscription Plans
This step can only be performed if you can access your account. The next step you can take is to check if the threat actor has made any changes to your subscription.
Step 1 – Log into your account and click on your profile icon.
Step 2 – Head to Account.
Step 3 – Click on Receipts and check if there are any changes to your subscription.
3. Reset Password
Assuming that the hacker has locked you out of your account, you can try resetting your password. Here are the steps to do that –
Step 1 – Go to the Password Reset page.
Step 2 – Enter your email address and username and click on Send.
Step 3 – Click on the reset link sent to your email and select a strong and unique password.
4. Disconnect From Social Media Accounts/ Apps Connected To Your Spotify Account
Another thing that you should do if you suspect that your Spotify account is hacked is to disconnect any third-party apps or social
Step 1 – Log into your account and click on the profile icon from the top right corner.
Step 2 – Click on Account.
Step 3 – Click on Apps and click on Remove Access next to each of the apps associated with your Spotify account.
Additionally, change the password of each of these apps or social media channels as well.
5. Log out Of Any Connected Devices
If you suspect that your Spotify account is hacked and if you have connected multiple devices to your Spotify account – phones, speakers, tablets, or even your car, then ensure to log out of all connected devices. This step may take some time but rest assured that unwanted users will be kicked out.
Step 1 – Log into your account and click on the profile icon from the top right corner.
Step 2 – Go to Accounts.
Step 3 – Click on Account Overview.
Step 4 – Click on Sign out everywhere.
How To Recover Playlists?
After you have recovered your account, you may also want to recover playlists as well on which you might have spent a considerable amount of time. Here are the steps to recover playlists –
Step 1 – Log into your account and click on the profile icon from the top right corner.
Step 2 – Go to Account.
Step 3 – Click on Recover playlists.
Be Alert, Stay Safe!
To sum up, if you suspect that someone has stolen your Spotify account, needn’t jitter. First, try and reset your password and report the incident to the Spotify support team. As a preventive measure, you can change your password to something strong and random using a password manager like TweakPass. Found this post helpful? Do let us know in the comments section below and share this blog with someone who might be in a dire situation. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter.