Hack-Proof Your Accounts: Lessons from Riot's LoL Nightmare

You’ve spent years building your social media presence. But in minutes, hackers can seize control, damage your reputation, and use your brand to scam followers. Even major companies with dedicated security teams fall victim to these attacks.

When cybercriminals compromise your social media accounts, they can spread misinformation, steal customer data, and permanently damage trust in your brand. Instagram and X accounts are particularly vulnerable, making robust security measures essential for businesses of all sizes.

This post examines what happened during the League of Legends cryptocurrency scam, why Instagram and X accounts are prime targets, and nine practical steps you can take to protect your organization's social presence.

What Happened To League Of Legends' Social Media?

League of Legends has built an enormous following since its 2009 launch. With 4.6 million Instagram followers and 5.2 million on X, Riot's flagship game presents an attractive target for hackers looking to exploit established trust.

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On March 20, 2025, League of Legends appeared to announce an official cryptocurrency. League of Legends’ official Instagram account announced an “official” collaboration between League of Legends and MotoGP Coin. The post called for people to buy the fake crypto coin using a wallet address.

Also, a post from Lead Gameplay Designer Matt Leung-Harrison's X account claimed the game would launch "LOL coin" as official currency on a Web3 network.

The announcement stated this cryptocurrency would meet player demand and integrate directly with League of Legends. It directed readers to Riot's website for additional details about the upcoming implementation.

However, the entire announcement was fake. Hackers had compromised Leung-Harrison's account and used it to promote a fake cryptocurrency scheme. Riot quickly confirmed to PCGames that they had no plans to launch any cryptocurrency.

What was particularly interesting about these hacks is that it targeted a company and its employees. This incident represents just one of thousands of social media hacks that happen daily. Major brands, celebrities, and gaming companies face constant threats from attackers seeking to exploit their established audience.

How Your Organization Can Protect Its Social Media Accounts

Instagram and X rank among the most frequently targeted social media platforms for hackers. As such, you would think they are some of the most protected platforms. But unfortunately, that’s not the case. Enabling all available security features isn't straightforward, leaving many accounts vulnerable to attacks.

The good news is, you can significantly reduce your risk by implementing the following security measures.

1) Create A Social Media Policy

A social media policy outlines how employees should represent themselves and your brand online. This set of guidelines protects your organization's security, privacy, legal interests, and reputation across all platforms.

Your policy should include specific rules about account access, password management, and security practices. It needs to clarify who can post content, what information they can share, and how to respond during security incidents.

A well-crafted policy reduces risks by establishing clear expectations for social media use. Also, it ensures team members understand their responsibilities for maintaining account security and preventing unauthorized access that could damage your brand.

2) Create A Rapid Response Team (RTT)

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A Rapid Response Team consists of dedicated staff prepared to act immediately during security incidents. This group includes members from communications, IT security, and leadership who follow predefined protocols during crises.

RTTs identify and address threats before they escalate, containing potential damage and reducing response time when accounts are compromised.

One important thing to note is that organizations with established response teams recover faster from security breaches. Their quick action limits reputational damage and demonstrates to customers, partners, and employees that you take security threats seriously.

3) Regularly Train Your Team On Cybersecurity

Regular cybersecurity training transforms your social media team into one of your most important lines of defense against attacks. When staff are able to recognize social engineering, phishing attempts, and other online threats, they become a “human firewall” that actively protects your company.

Training creates a security-conscious culture that reduces both accidental and deliberate insider threats. Team members learn to identify suspicious messages, unusual login attempts, and other warning signs of potential account compromise.

To ensure everyone is properly trained, run simulated phishing drills that test employees' ability to identify threats in real-world scenarios. These practical exercises help staff recognize common tactics and avoid falling for increasingly sophisticated scams targeting your social accounts.

4) Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords form your first defense against unauthorized access. They protect sensitive data, reduce cyberattack risks, and help meet regulatory requirements for account security.

A key thing to note is to never reuse passwords across platforms. When credentials leak in one breach, hackers immediately try them on other services. As such, a single compromised password can create a domino effect that exposes multiple accounts.

To have the most secure passwords, create passwords that are at least 14 characters long and combine uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Important: Avoid dictionary words, names, and predictable patterns that hackers can easily crack with automated tools.

5) Enable Two Factor Authentication For Teams

Two-factor authentication for teams adds crucial protection beyond passwords. This security layer neutralizes the threat of stolen credentials by requiring additional verification before granting access to your accounts.

Team-based 2FA differs from traditional approaches by offering broader access control with role-based authentication. Instead of tying verification to a single device, team solutions enable secure access for multiple authorized users.

Also, when staff members leave your organization, administrators can instantly revoke their access without changing passwords or disrupting other team members. This centralized management ensures only current, authorized personnel can access your social media accounts.

6) Avoid Clicking Phishing Links

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Phishing links sent through social media platforms appear legitimate but lead to fake websites designed to steal your credentials. These malicious URLs often mimic trusted brands or appear to come from contacts within your organization.

Clicking these links exposes your accounts to many dangers, including identity theft, malware infections, and account takeovers. Once criminals gain access, they can impersonate your brand to spread scams like the fake League of Legends cryptocurrency.

The way these messages work is, attackers use urgency tactics to push victims into clicking without thinking. Messages claiming your account will be suspended or flagging false security issues create artificial time pressure that bypasses normal caution.

7) Only Use Company Approved Channels For Communication

Restricting internal communication to approved channels strengthens your security posture by establishing clear verification standards. As a result, these channels help prevent impersonation attempts targeting your team.

For example, hackers frequently execute Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks by impersonating executives or team members. They exploit the trust and authority associated with these roles to request sensitive information or account access.

However, company-approved channels typically include verification mechanisms that confirm message legitimacy, thus, preventing these types of attacks.

8) Use Antivirus Software

Antivirus software protects company devices from keyloggers and other malware that steal login credentials. These programs record keystrokes, capturing passwords, financial details, and other sensitive information typed on infected systems.

Additionally, antivirus real-time monitoring identifies and neutralizes threats as they appear, including zero-day attacks that target previously unknown vulnerabilities. To maintain protection against these emerging threats, keep your antivirus software updated regularly.

9) Use Social Media Security Tools

Social media security tools provide specialized protection for your online presence. These platforms monitor your accounts for suspicious activity, unauthorized access attempts, and potential cyberattacks targeting your brand.

These tools detect social media phishing attempts, brand impersonation, and malicious content before they damage your reputation. They strengthen your overall cybersecurity and help build audience trust by preventing public security incidents.

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There are many different types of social media security tools. Some focus on password management and data breaches, while others focus primarily on account security and monitoring.

For example, Spikerz offers complete protection through continuous account monitoring. The platform scans for unauthorized access from unusual locations, automatically changing passwords to block potential intrusions.

When suspicious activity appears, Spikerz alerts you immediately and manages permissions to ensure only authorized team members can access your accounts while blocking phishing attempts.

If hackers compromise your account, Spikerz provides recovery tools with content backup capabilities, minimizing downtime and potential brand damage.

As you can see, these tools actively work in the background to protect your social media accounts. If you haven't implemented specialized security tools to protect your profiles, you're gambling with your brand's reputation. Take control of your social media security today before hackers strike.

Conclusion

The League of Legends cryptocurrency scam shows us that even major companies with significant resources face social media security threats. When hackers gain control of your accounts, they exploit your brand reputation to spread scams, damage customer trust, and steal sensitive information.

That’s why it’s key to take account security seriously. Protecting your social media accounts requires a multi-layered approach that combines strong passwords, two-factor authentication, employee training, and specialized security tools. Implement these nine security measures to create robust protection against emerging threats targeting your social media presence.

Don't wait until after a breach to strengthen your security. Take action now to shield your brand from attacks that could undo years of careful reputation building in minutes.