Cheryl Fergison has revealed her Twitter and email accounts have been hacked.
Sharing a lengthy Instagram post on Thursday, the EastEnders star, 55, told fans: ‘The last couple of days have been frustrating and upsetting.’
The actress explained she was concerned about who may now have access to her personal contacts, adding that she can no longer access her Twitter page, which boasts nearly 91,000 followers.
Shocking: Cheryl Fergison, 55, has revealed her Twitter and email accounts have been hacked in a new Instagram post
Looking disheartened in a selfie that accompanied the news, Cheryl – who is best known for portraying Heather Trott on the BBC soap – began: ‘Hi everyone.. so here’s what has been happening.
‘Now as a positive person generally the last couple of days has been totally frustrating and upsetting due to having been hacked!’
She then warned of the dangers of social media, adding that ‘nothing is out of bounds’ for online hackers.
‘Because I don’t go around all doom and gloom it doesn’t enter my head that people can try to ruin nice people’s lives,’ Cheryl continued.
‘As you know I love my social media … but it’s just made me think how we all need to go back to a timeless dependant on having our whole lives based around some sort of digital life.’
‘Upsetting’: Sharing a lengthy Instagram post on Thursday, the EastEnders star told fans: ‘The last couple of days have been frustrating and upsetting’ (pictured on the soap’s set in 2011)
She went on: ‘Nothing it seems is out of bounds for these people who are set on trying to (and achieving) to make peoples lives a misery. It’s not fair and it’s not good for the soul.
‘So my Twitter account (verified and with some wonderful supporters … over 91 thousand of you ) seems to have been hacked.
‘I can no longer access the account …. and a important email account has been compromised also meaning I can’t get my emails etc so frustrating.’
Speaking of the worry the situation has caused, the soap star shared: ‘It’s also worrying as they could use my email address to get to my contacts and probably have already.’
In-depth: Looking disheartened in a selfie that accompanied the news, Cheryl – who is best known for portraying Heather Trott on the BBC soap – penned a long caption
Cheryl also hinted that the shock hacking of her accounts has made her think twice about having an online presence at all.
She said: ‘All I’ve ever wanted to do on my social media is support you the loyal supporters of my work and share with you all my new and exciting projects …. so not sure now how I feel about all of this now.’
The star also told how the news had put a damper on an ‘exciting project’ that she’d recently learned of.
‘And on the day I learn about a new and exciting filming project too.’
Concluding her post, Cheryl urged her fans to ‘try and find the simplicity in life’ and told them: ‘Don’t let the b**tards get you down.’
‘Take it easy and let’s all try to find the simplicity of life again,’ she said.
‘As a creative person I don’t understand the tech stuff too well and if I’m honest it’s not really my cup of tea.
‘I understand it’s great to those who thrive on a keyboard and computer but me personally I like to meet real people in real situations and call me old fashioned but much prefer a good old face to face , audience to audience, person to person social mixing.
‘One of the real problems with what we have all been through this last year and it’s challenges … anyway my lovely peeps keep chilled , keep the hope and what’s it they say ‘ don’t let the b******* grind you down.’
Death hoax: In December, Cheryl faced more turmoil on social media after she was forced to deny she is dead after a vile hoax surfaced online
In December, Cheryl faced more turmoil on social media after she was forced to deny she is dead after a vile hoax surfaced online.
The star took to Instagram at the time to post a selfie confirming she was alive and well – and would be back on television in the New Year.
She wrote: ‘Thank you for your concerns but I am alive and well despite confusion on some social media that I had passed away.
‘Sadly we did lose George Michael the legend & wonderful man 4 years ago .. Heather Trott well yes she is dead but as for me Cheryl Fergison I’m looking forward to a wonderful new year where I wish our industry to get back into full flow.
‘So with confidence I say look out for me back on your screens in the new year and here’s to exciting and wonderful new projects ( like the secret says open your mind and be positive in the knowledge you will receive.
‘Wishing you all a prosperous and wonderful new year, be patient, stay safe and remember life is for living it to the best we can.’
Cheryl lives in the North West with her husband Yassine Al-Jermoni, 34, who she tied the knot with in 2011 after he moved to the UK to be with her.
She wrote at the time: ‘Thank you for your concerns but I am alive and well despite confusion on some social media that I had passed away’