FVCK the HACK.
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This post is long, but if you are interested in keeping your Facebook account safe, you will read it.
For this tip I am sharing, you mostly will need a PC to set up your Facebook security properly.
There are several ways hackers get into your Facebook account. Most of the time, these are small time hackers trying to use the target Facebook account for whatever messed up reason they want to. But we could put our butts on their face, 99.8% of the time. Let's do this!
Checking the login attempts:
If you want to check if your account has been logged into from a location or device different from yours, do this.
Open your Facebook on a PC browser and go to the ARROW in the UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER of your Facebook and click on it. In the drop down menu, select SETTINGS. A new menu will pop up. Choose SECURITY AND LOGIN and then click 'See More' under the WHERE YOU'RE LOGGED IN tab.
A list of all of the DEVICES that you've logged into and their LOCATIONS will pop up. If there is a login you don't recognize, chances are you may have been hacked. If you see anything that isn't you, click on the 3 dots on the right side of the log. You will see NOT YOU? and LOG OUT.
Click on NOT YOU for more information on the login attempt and click SECURE ACCOUNT to allow Facebook take you through steps on how to secure your account.
The Secure Account step is quite extensive. Just read through and follow the steps provided by Facebook.
Some ways to tell if your account has been hacked are:
Your name, birthday, email or password has been changed
Someone sent out friend requests to people you don't know
Messages have been sent from your account, but you didn't write them
Posts are appearing on your timeline that you didn't post
How to Keep Your Facebook Account Safe:
People, people, people! Really people. Stop granting access to third party apps or websites that you do not know well about. For instance, apps that match you with your with your "future lover" on Facebook, or the ones that do fortune telling for you. Avoid them like a plague, if you want your Facebook account to remain secure.
To check if these Apps and Websites are still connected to your Facebook, do this:
Navigate to Settings. Move your eyes to 'Apps and Websites' on the Settings menu and click it. Check the ACTIVE tab and review the apps which are relevant to you. Click on the EXPIRED tab review the apps, check the irrelevant ones and click on REMOVE at the top right corner of the EXPIRED APPS AND WEBSITES tab, and follow the prompts to remove them.
The Password:
If you haven't changed your Facebook password in a while, you NEED to. No, don't think of a password. Use a PASSWORD GENERATOR. You can check passwordsgeneratordotnet (the dot is . ) to generate a very strong password and use a password SAFE (or password manager) to store the password.
Password managers are great because they store all your passwords (from social media passwords to bank passwords etc.), generate strong ones for you, and in general, the only password you have to remember is the one to open your password manager. It’s time to put an end to using “123456” or “password” to lock your accounts. Password managers aren’t just for convenience’s sake; think of it as good online hygiene.
Lastpass is a very good password manager, with a 30-day free trial and pay $2 per month or 720 Nigerian Naira equivalent. If you don't want to pay $2 per month for you can opt for Dashlane. It is also good and you get to do a lot of things with them. Register to get started.
So generate a new password using a password generator and save it in a password SAFE using a password manager.
After you change your password, you can make it safer. Facebook is jam-packed with security features, you just need to ACTIVATE them. Open Facebook in your browser and go to Settings > Security and Login > Setting Up Extra Security.
From there:
Turn on login alerts so that you receive notifications when your account is logged into. This helps you catch a hacker early, before any major damage is done.
Enable two-factor authentication, then choose an extra layer of security from the list.
Choose your trusted contacts and add a few close friends or family members that can help you unlock your account if it ever becomes hacked.
After enabling Two-Factor Authentication, you can add extra backup option so that you can log in if your chosen security method isn't available. A good backup option is the use of Recovery Codes. You can use the codes for when you don't have your phone with you, for example when you're traveling.
With these steps, your Facebook account is much more difficult for a hacker to get into and much easier to recover if it is ever compromised.
If you have any challenge in setting up your Facebook security, do not hesitate to contact me.
Cheers to a more secure social media environment.