Social media is now an important part of every life; profession, business and society at large, including animals. Having a Facebook account hacked has been a major problem for a lot of people recently, and the experience has left many users nearly as frustrated with the social network as they are with the hackers.
This post is designed to teach you the various steps and actions you can individually take on your account to protect it from hackers and other minor attacks that may result from bots and unauthorized attempts to gain access to your account.
When they do, some may end up using your name and WhatsApp account to steal from your family, friends and loved ones. They can even engage your customers and clients directly without your knowledge.
The havoc is plenty but the scope of this work is to ensure that your account is protected.
Read Also: 5 Ways to Keep your WhatsApp Account Safe from Hackers
How to know If You’ve Been Hacked
It is important to know that your account represents you, and only you should have access to it. Identifying what signs to look for can help you take immediate action.
- If Your email or password have changed
- Your name or birthday have changed
- Friend requests have been sent to people you have never met.
- The message has been sent that you dint write
- A post was made that you did not write.
Read Also: 10 Best Fintech Apps to Save or Make Extra Income in 2022
Now that you have seen the symptoms that should suggest to you that your account has been compromised. However, instead of waiting for your account to be hacked, take these actions to remain on the safe side:
Enable a secure browser
Turning on your secure browsing option is a valid way to secure your browsing activity within Facebook. Doing so prevents other applications connected to Facebook from causing any harm or stealing your personal information without your knowledge or permission.
To do these follow these simple steps
Go to account settings on Facebook
Select security from the left
At the secure browsing, section click on the edit link at the right
The options panel will appear, check the box browser Facebook on a secure connection then click on the save changes button.
Create a unique password
When creating a password keep in mind that your password should be what you can remember but difficult for someone to guess, your Facebook account should be different from the password you use to log in to other accounts like email or Twitter account.
However, longer passwords are more secure than shorter passwords and also should not be an email, phone number, or birthday.
A unique password should include numbers, alphabets, lower case, upper case, punctuation marks, and symbols.
Use a password manager they are many good password managers that will help you keep your passwords such as dashlane and 1password.
Some devices such as iPhone or iPad have already password manager built in their system for example you can use the iCloud keychain for free.
Log into your Facebook account on a trusted device or computer
If for instance, you are using a computer that you don’t trust avoid anything that requires you to put your password. Hackers usually use key loggers on a device that records everything you type – including your password. However, if you must log in ensure to change your password immediately you log in using your personal device.
Use Facebook security features
Configure Login Alerts. When someone logs into your account from an unrecognized location, Login Alerts sends you an alert (via Facebook notification, email, and/or text message).
If you receive a login alert and you were not the one who logged in, immediately click or tap the wasn’t me link to recover your account. Here’s how to configure Login Alerts:
On a computer, type:
Go to https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=security to begin, click the Edit button next to “Receive alerts about unrecognized logins,” Select how you want to receive notifications, and then click Save Changes.
On a mobile device or tablet
Go to settings and click on security and login
Click on get alert about unrecognized login
Enable two-factor authentification
Another unique option to secure your Facebook account from hackers is to enable 2FA authentification, 2FA authentification gives you a stronger option to secure your social when attempting to login from a different or strange device by requesting a security code.
You have a choice to choose how you want to receive this code either via SMS or using an authentification app like Google authentification.
Two-factor authentification on a computer
Next to “Use two-factor authentication,” click Edit.
Select Use Text Message and follow the on-screen instructions to receive codes via SMS (the most common).
To use an authentication app such as Google Authenticator, select Use Authentication App and follow the on-screen directions.
Two-factor authentification on a mobile phone or tablet
Go to https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=security.
Using a phone or tablet:
Open the Facebook app and tap the menu
Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
tap on Security and Login.
tap Use two-factor authentication.
press Use Text Message and follow the instructions to receive codes via text message and follow the on-screen directions.
Click Use Authentication App to use an authentication app like Duo or Google Authenticator, and follow the on-screen order.
Avoid accepting friend requests randomly
Scammers can set up bogus accounts and friendly people. They can spam your timeline, tag you in posts, send you fake messages, and even target your friends once they’ve friended you.
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Stay away from spam links
Facebook is improving its features in order to protect its users from scammers. However, they are various types of attacks which include phishing links that will direct a user to a fake website, financial scams that may come through Facebook chat, such types of links could retrieve your personal information or may even harm your computer.
The following steps below are what you can follow in order to avoid being a victim.
Login on www.facebook.com and not from any other link or website.
Never give out your user name and password to anyone.
Avoid links that appear on Facebook chat, posts,s or emails.
And lastly, endeavor to always update a browser to its latest version.
In case you lose access to your contacts, choose trusted contacts from your Facebook friends.
A trusted contact is someone who can help you regain access to your account if you lose it to hackers.
You should select people who can be counted on to be dependable contacts.
They will be able to send you a recovery code along with a URL to assist you in regaining access to your account.
Making use of a computer:
Go to https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=security to begin.
Tap the Edit button next to “Select 3 to 5 friends to contact if you are locked out.”
Select Friends and afterward abide by the on-screen instructions.
Using a mobile phone or tablet:
Tap the menu (three horizontal lines) or the large F in the bottom-center of the Facebook app.
Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security & Login.
Choose 3 to 5 friends to contact if you are locked out and obey the on-screen instructions.
Wrap up
Safeguarding individuals here at jobreaders, we work around the clock to create solutions, and here is one.
While we work to find, fix, and prevent security issues, we’ve compiled a list of security tips to help you identify suspicious requests and activity and keep your account and Facebook page safe.
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