Bay Area winemaker reveals hackers blocked her social media access

In the United States, Aaliyah Nitoto, a Bay Area winemaker and founder of Free Range Flower Winery, has been facing severe challenges during the busy holiday season due to a hacking incident that compromised her social media accounts. The aftermath of the security breach has resulted in Nitoto losing access to her advertising accounts on Meta, leading to a drastic decline in customer engagement at her winery. Over the past month, she noted a significant drop in sales and foot traffic to her tasting room, causing substantial financial distress. To combat the issue, Nitoto enlisted the help of her bank to cancel credit cards that may have been exploited by hackers. Unfortunately, the fallout from the incident prevented her from restoring her ad account because of an outstanding balance that accrued as a result of the hacking. In an effort to resolve the issue, Nitoto reached out to Meta Support, but the process proved to be confusing and frustrating. She reported difficulties in establishing direct communication with a support representative, leading her to suspect that she was conversing with a third-party entity rather than official Meta support. This lack of effective customer service left her feeling powerless and frustrated, as it seemed that her situation was being treated as merely a financial issue rather than a customer service crisis. Following her persistence, she eventually managed to have a conversation with a verified Meta agent. Although she received confirmation that the hackers had been removed from the accounts and that the monetary debt was negated, her access to the ad account remained elusive. As the holiday season approached, Nitoto's attempts to reach customers without relying on social media became increasingly difficult. With uncertainty hanging over her ability to rectify the situation in time for Christmas, she expressed her cautious hope that the matter would be resolved soon. Observers have noted that experiences similar to Nitoto's are on the rise, reflecting a broader trend in which small business owners encounter systemic hindrances when dealing with large tech companies like Meta. Consumer advocacy groups, including 41 Attorney General's Offices, have voiced their concerns to Meta, underscoring the urgency to find reliable solutions for businesses suffering from hacking incidents and inadequate support. In conclusion, Aaliyah Nitoto's predicament highlights a growing issue faced by small businesses in the digital era, where reliance on social media platforms for advertising can expose them to vulnerabilities, such as hacking. The complexities of navigating support systems from major tech companies often exacerbate these challenges, as entrepreneurs like Nitoto strive to maintain their livelihoods in an increasingly competitive market.