"Musings" on a Face-Book Hack Attack

On Monday night, August 24, 2009 I painfully discovered that someone had hacked into my Face-Book account. They used the opportunity to post the most vile, blasphemous, and pornographic smut once can hardly imagine. Yet it appeared that "I" had made these horrible posts. Needless to say, I was immediately informed by a horde of emails and phone calls that a hacker had indeed taken control of my Face-Book account. Needless to say, I was devastated--to the point of tears. While numerous FB friends 'reported' the hacker, I didn't know what to do except to de-activate my FB account. And since FB does not have a phone number one can call, my only option was to send them an email asking the following questions:
(1) Can they track the person who hacked my account?
(2) Can this hacker be exposed and prosecuted to the full extend of the law?
(3) Can I find out how this person was able to hack into my account?
(4) And how were they able to do so?

Note: I have still received no reply from Face-Book whatsoever.

I have since learned that Face-Book has NO security system. The only advise I received from other users is to change my pass-word frequently (at least every other week). I DO give praise to the Lord that an army of my Christians friends came to my aid. One even engaged in conversation with the hacker asking him questions that only the REAL Steve Spencer would know. He could answer none of the questions--and thus it became evident to all that I truly was the victim of a Face-Book hack attack.

I want to take this opportunity to inform anyone who reads this post of the potential threats one can be subjected to by a Face-Book hacker. One person told me that there are software programs on the market that instruct people "how to hack into a Face-Book account." I have no concrete evidence to validate that this claim is true. But I wouldn't be surprised whatsoever.

I, of course, experienced an entire range of emotions due to all of this--total shock, outrage and anger, and sadness that there are people who would do something so evil. Particularly since it was our Lord Jesus Christ Himself who was so utterly blasphemed. And quite honestly, grace has not filled my heart with this person. I was so grieved that some of my best friends--going back many, many years were exposed to this blasphemous and pornographic smut. While many of my FB friends are 'praying for the person who did this vile thing"...I have more of a mind-set that God will take matters into His own hands and deal with this person most severely. Yet a part of me feels compassion for a person who has such a dark and evil heart that he would do such an evil and vile thing. I devoted much time to contacting FB friends and informing them what had occurred...and that they were exposed to the most horrible and blasphemous posts that one can hardly imagine.

Due to this incident, I de-activated my account (and have no plans to ever re-activate it). I simply cannot risk this happening again. And so, to those who use Face-Book, realize that if this happened to a "low profile"--even a "no profile" Christian such as myself, it can happen to anyone.

I want to thank my Face-Book friends who came quickly to my aid and support. This is a good reminder that while computer technology can be used for great good, it can also be used for great evil. And even though I don't 'feel' like praying for the person who did this...I know that the right thing to do IS to pray that God will both convict him of his sin and ultimately bring him (or her) to a saving knowledge and relationship with Jesus Christ. In the grand scheme of things, I view this as an attack inspired and directed by Satan. He is, after all, "the accuser of the brethren." Again, I thank all my friends who came to my support and defense. It's always the power of the Spirit and "the love of the brethren" that enables one to walk through such trials victoriously. Blessings and protection upon all my FB friends, and all users of Face-Book.