Defeating the Matrix Virus: How I Restored My Peace and Removed a Hacked Meta Account—Meta Needs to Step Up
Five days ago, my Facebook account was hacked, and my personal and business presence felt like it was slipping out of my control. Each morning, I received alerts of the hacker logging in, creating Instagram accounts from my Facebook account. I could see their email lurking in my account like an intruder I couldn’t shake. It felt invasive, anxiety-inducing, and left me with a constant sense of uncertainty. My Facebook was compromised, and I feared for my connected business accounts and personal data. With over 5,000 connections and 1,000 followers on Facebook, the sheer vulnerability was overwhelming.
But it wasn’t just about the followers. In today’s world, fewer people may rely on Facebook for social interaction, but for me, this went beyond numbers—it was about the intrusion. What was even more shocking was that Facebook and Meta had no solution for this problem. Despite their vast resources, their negligence made me feel victimized and unsupported.
I tried everything. I spoke to Facebook support, obtained a verified badge, and sought assistance repeatedly, but every single person I spoke with was unhelpful. They dismissed my concerns, claiming it was "out of their scope." At one point, a support representative gaslighted me, claiming that the hacker's email attached to my account was randomly created by Meta. This explanation was not only absurd but insulting. I momentarily doubted myself, but deep down, I knew this was a lie. When I asked why this wasn’t public knowledge if Meta was supposedly creating these emails, the representative gave an incoherent response, leaving me baffled that such incompetence existed in a company as large as Meta.
Repeatedly, support closed my case, telling me they couldn’t help. It was frustrating beyond belief. It felt like I was dealing not only with a hacker but also with an indifferent, uncaring corporate entity that was supposed to protect its users. Their negligence felt like abuse.
Then, I turned to Reddit, where other victims of this nuanced hacking issue were also sharing their experiences. Vietnamese hackers, it seemed, were exploiting Meta’s systems, creating accounts linked to victims' Facebook profiles, which couldn’t be removed. Thanks to the smart and resourceful people on Reddit, I found a workaround—and it worked.
Here’s how I resolved it:
Implementing the Workaround, according one reddit user:
Creating a Dummy Instagram Account:
To bypass the hacker’s password requirements, I created a dummy Instagram account using a new burner email. The idea was to link it to the hacker's Meta account without needing their email or two-factor authentication, which I couldn’t access.Linking the Dummy Instagram:
I then linked this dummy Instagram to both the hacker's Meta account and my Facebook account in the Account Center. This step was critical because the system required a linked account when unlinking my Facebook from the hacker’s Meta account.Successfully Unlinking My Facebook Account:
With the dummy Instagram now linked, I was able to successfully unlink my Facebook account from the hacker's Meta account without needing their login details or password. This was the final step in securing my account from further unauthorized access.
Before finding this workaround, I felt completely helpless. Facebook even prevented me from deactivating or removing my own Facebook account because it was tied to the hacker’s Meta account. It felt like a matrix virus—a virus beyond the visible world that had entered my life. My family and close friends could sense the emotional toll it was taking on me, much like when someone gets sick with a physical virus. This, however, was a digital sickness—a matrix virus.
But I fought back, and I won. I managed to kick the hacker out of my digital life.
Meta and Facebook, however, must take responsibility. Their platforms are becoming unsafe spaces for users, akin to an unsafe neighborhood where criminals lurk in the shadows. If you want to remain on Facebook or Meta, you need to be constantly on guard, equipped to protect yourself from unscrupulous individuals who can attack from any direction.
It’s time Meta takes these issues seriously and creates real solutions to protect its users from this digital landscape of crime and vulnerability. Because right now, it feels like we’re being left to fend for ourselves in a space that’s increasingly unsafe and unpredictable.
Normally, at the end of my blog posts, I’d offer a call to action, as I do in my hypnotherapy work, guiding you toward transformation and positive change. But in this case, I’m leaving that space intentionally blank. Instead, I encourage you to pause and reflect on how much time you spend online and the value you place on your digital presence. Be mindful of the energy you invest into these platforms, and consider how vulnerable we are when we rely on systems that may not always protect us.
Think twice about the trust you put in the digital world and how you can safeguard your personal information. Your time and your privacy are precious—protect them.
Elena Mosaner, MS, is a Certified Hypnotherapist, Master NLP Practitioner, and ICF Certified Coach with over 15 years of experience in helping people with habit-building, conquering fears, confidence-building, performance, and other personal development and wellness issues. She is also an author and the founder of HypnoCloud, a digital hypnotherapy app. Contact us for your complimentary consultation.