If you are a regular internet user, chances are you have several digital accounts with a variety of institutions. From online banking to social media sites, people are looking for ways to secure their online accounts from hackers, especially their Facebook accounts. Facebook accounts hold sensitive information about its users—everything from mobile numbers, private photos, addresses, and work history.
Consider the following methods you can take to secure your Facebook account from hackers which will also secure your Facebook Fan Page:
- Use a strong password.
Passwords should be at least eight characters long and include numbers and other special characters. Passwords should be changed often to ensure high security, and none of your passwords should be used more than once. Make sure you use a question you remember the answer to when Facebook prompts you to record your response for password recovery. Never save your password on computers or devices that are not your own; especially public use devices as found in libraries or computer labs.
- Be suspicious of Facebook apps.
Some third-party apps installed on your Facebook profile can record, modify, and track sensitive information. Read the fine print on these apps! If you do not know how the software interacts with your profile, it is best to avoid installation.
- Know your Facebook settings.
Take extra time to understand how Facebook allows users to adjust and toggle security and account settings. While Facebook has its own tutorial to educate users on this issue, there are plenty of free resources online that can explain the ins and outs of these settings and features. Once you have your account locked down from public view, it would be wise to try and “hack” back in yourself. This can be done by attempting to retrieve your password (by acting as if you were the hacker) or view your primary page from a secondary or “throwaway” account you have created for such a test.
- Secure your connection.
Check the URL when you are clicking around your Facebook page. If the URL does not have https://www.facebook.com in it (notice the “s” after the “http”), then you are not securely connected to the Facebook domain.
To check your settings:- Click ACCOUNT >> ACCOUNT SETTINGS.
- On the SETTINGS tab, Find the ACCOUNT SECURITY section and click "change".
- Under ACCOUNT SECURITY, you should see a checkbox to "Browse Facebook on a secured connection (https) whenever possible".
- Click the checkbox and then click SAVE.
- End unfamiliar active sessions.
Facebook keeps a log of every location from which you log in to your account. The list is found ACCOUNT SETTINGS >> SECURITY SETTINGS (link on the left side of page). In the security settings section, view the ACTIVE SESSIONS section. This is a list of every session of Facebook you accessed most recently. If you see one that is in a town or city or location unfamiliar to you, end the session and change your password immediately.
About the Guest Author:
Connie Davis is a contributing author for NerdWallet, a personal finance website, where you can find advice on a range of topics from managing credit debt to where to find online discount coupons.
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