My LinkedIn Account Was Hijacked – Here’s What I Learned About Cybersecurity and the Platform’s Vulnerabilities

We live in a world where, with one click, your digital life can be flipped upside down. I learned this the hard way recently when my LinkedIn account was hijacked. Spoiler alert: I got it back, but not without uncovering some unsettling truths about the platform's vulnerabilities.

The Setup

I’ll own my mistake upfront: I clicked an ad on X (formerly Twitter) for a program called AI Editor. I thought, “Why not check it out?” (Hint: NEVER try it out—it installs malware.) The malware somehow exploited my LinkedIn session ID, allowing the hijackers to change everything about me: name, photo, gender, education, work history—basically, my entire identity.

The kicker? They didn’t log me out of my session on my phone, which is how I discovered the mess in the first place. Imagine watching your conversation with someone on LinkedIn, only to find yourself unrecognizable. I was suddenly a rather good looking Asian lady.

The Problem

Here’s what shocked me the most: LinkedIn doesn’t seem to have a system in place to verify if these changes were genuinely made by you. There was no email confirmation for the name change, no secondary verification for altering my work history, and no red flag raised for an account suddenly morphing into someone else entirely. (I did get an email that my name on LinkedIn had been changed, but that was hours after the fact)

In an era where platforms pride themselves on security, this felt like a glaring gap. Sure, they emphasize password protection and two-factor authentication (which I use religiously), but where’s the safeguard for identity integrity?

Lessons Learned

1. Don’t Click Suspicious Ads My lapse in judgment cost me hours of stress. Cybercriminals are clever, and curiosity can be their best ally.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) A no-brainer. It adds a crucial layer of security.
3. Monitor Your Digital Presence If I hadn’t had LinkedIn open on my phone, I might not have noticed the hijack until it was too late. Regularly check your accounts for suspicious activity.
4. LinkedIn Needs to Step Up Platforms like LinkedIn must implement identity verification protocols when users make drastic changes to their profiles. A simple “Is this you?” or "Are you sure?" could make a world of difference.

Let’s Discuss

Have you ever experienced anything similar? Do you think platforms should introduce stricter verification measures, or does the responsibility rest solely on the user? I’d love to hear your thoughts, especially if you have ideas for how LinkedIn and other platforms can better protect users.

Let’s keep the conversation going. And remember, the next time you see an ad for AI Editor, don’t click it. Trust me.