Can Fortnite accounts get hacked? How hackers could steal your info

Fortnite accounts are slowly becoming NFTs as players stack their lockers with almost every cosmetic they receive. What matters is the rarity of the items they own in their account and the quantity of Fortnite skins they have stacked.

The game consists of several rare skins, pickaxes, and gliders that have not returned to the game for over three years, and players who own them are considered "OGs." These players possess accounts stacked with the rarest cosmetics and a Battle Pass of almost every Fortnite season.

While this is an achievement Loopers take pride in, their accounts are constantly monitored by hackers who endlessly attempt to breach them with rare Fortnite items holding lucrative value in the black market online. However, Epic Games assures its player base of account safety from data theft.

Still, there are many ways that hackers can scam players, take complete control of their Fortnite account, and sell it online for a hefty price. Here is how they carry out their tasks and how you can protect your Fortnite account.

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How hackers hack a Fortnite account and how to stay protected against them

Fortnite accounts are constantly in high demand as the metaverse of the game has grown over the years. These accounts hold significant value in the black market as they have built themselves an NFT-style status. Hackers are hired by several traders to hack into players' computers using malicious methods to retrieve these accounts so they can then sell them off.

Phishing is among the most common methods used by hackers to hack accounts. By definition, phishing is the practice of sending emails or other messages claiming to be from reputable companies while tricking individuals into revealing personal information, such as passwords.

A phishing website promising players free V-Bucks (Image via Sportskeeda)

However, in the case of Fortnite, players often look for methods to get their hands on free V-Bucks (in-game currency) that can be bought using real money online and offline. As a result, players tend to visit several unauthorized websites and download apps that promise them free V-Bucks.

The website usually asks them for their Epic account name, and once you enter it, it requires you to log in using your username and password. Once you do so, it goes straight to the hacker's feed. This happens because the webpage is a fake one meant to steal your account credentials.

However, this only works if you do not have two-factor authentication (2FA) active on your account. Epic advises all its players to turn on 2FA to add an additional layer of protection to their accounts.

A website selling accounts illegally (Image via Sportskeeda)

Once an account has been breached, hackers can change the email and password associated with it, posting it on a website that sells accounts for a hefty price. The preferred payment method hackers use is crypto or PayPal, which cannot be traced back to them. Several players purchase these accounts to lift the status quo in their gaming community as an "OG."

Hence, here are a few practices that players should do to protect their accounts:

1. Always trust legitimate sources to purchase V-Bucks as authorized by Epic Games
2. Do not share your password with anyone
3. Turn on Two Factor Authentication on your account
4. Never trust free promotions/reward schemes if they are not authorized by Epic
5. Do not use a VPN to login to your account
6. Never login to your account on someone else's computer

By following the above steps, you can prevent your account from getting hacked. With numerous accounts getting hacked or lost every year, Epic continues to improve its security backend to prevent any illegal breaches.