Tip of the Week: 3 Facebook Security Tips to Protect You and Your Friends

With social media playing such an important role in everyone’s day-to-day lives, one has to wonder to what degree this affects the security of online accounts and profiles. Social media might have revolutionized the way we communicate with others, but it’s also revolutionized the way that hackers stalk their victims. How vulnerable are you and the people you love when it comes to your Facebook settings?

Imagine this worst-case scenario. Hackers can impersonate your friends or the people you trust easily enough. If your profiles are set to public, nothing is stopping them from browsing your personal information (phone number, email, address), posts on your wall, pictures, videos, and more. This is all information that helps hackers determine how and when they will target you, or worse, the people you know.

The unique issue with social media attacks is that hackers can take advantage of both digital and physical variables in their favor, making it extra important that you take the proper precautions with your approach to social media. To avoid these unnerving possibilities, try these three tips to lock down your Facebook account.

Use the Privacy Checkup Shortcut
Upon clicking the padlock icon in the top-right corner of Facebook (near your notifications), you’ll notice that there’s a new feature called privacy shortcuts. These allow you to quickly and efficiently access some of Facebook’s best privacy and security features. By clicking on the Privacy Checkup button, a friendly bipedal blue dinosaur will guide you through a short process. You can set your default post status (public, private, etc), the apps that have access to your account, and certain parts of your profile information. You can then choose to view your profile as either one of your friends, or a stranger, to see if the changes you made were to your specifications.

The privacy shortcuts also provide you with opportunities to access other settings, like who can contact you via inbox or friend request, and how you can get someone to leave you alone. At the bottom of the drop-down, you can access even more privacy settings.

Enable Login Notifications
You probably know someone who has had their Facebook account hacked. This happens because people are unaware that their accounts have been compromised. Facebook has a measure dedicated to informing you of when someone logs into your account, and from where. You can receive these notifications either through your Facebook notification bar, email, or text messaging.

Facebook also allows you to see where your account is currently logged in, as well as the last location the device connected from. This includes device, operating system, and physical location, effectively allowing you to eliminate suspicious activity before too much damage is done. Click End Activity, which will give them the boot and give you some time to change your password.

Take Advantage of Two-Factor Authentication
Facebook has two-factor authentication, too, which uses a PIN sent to your smartphone to act as an additional login credential. You can also access the Code Generator application on your mobile phone, which gives you a security code that lets you access your account. This helps keep your account open to you, and only you.

Security is more important than ever, especially when we’re all connected through the Internet. It’s important to always keep the security of both yourself, your friends, and family in mind, by spreading best practices related to security protocol. Share this article on Facebook to get the word out.