Twitter question: How'd I end up following all these people?

Factual Questions
1

I rarely use Twitter. I’ve had an account for several years, but really never go there.

I did, however, log in this morning to take a look at something. I was surprised to see I was following over 300 people, most of which I know nothing about. Some were in languages I don’t speak. Many were people espousing things I have no interest in (NASCAR, Australian football) or celebrities I don’t care about.

I don’t think my account there has been compromised. At least, if it had, I’ve had no ill effects. I did change my password to be safe.

But how’d all those get there? I don’t use Twitter enough to know how it works - does it automatically sign you up to follow people based on some other behavior? I suspect some of them got there through errant clicks on other websites, but over 300 of them? WTH?

2

You’re account was hacked and someone signed you up to follow all those people. There’s a thriving marked for Twitter followers to make people look popular (and get financial gain from that) and this is the result.