HOW TO SECURE YOUR FACEBOOK ACCOUNT FROM HACKERS

Hacking of Facebook accounts this days is getting too alarming. Hence, this thread was created. Read on!

Facebook today is more than what it was a decade ago. It has now become a virtual world where most of us live our realities. According to www.buffer.com , Facebook now has over 2.23billion monthly active users. Yes! You read that right, Facebook has over 2.23 billion monthly active users. Which is certain that you are definitely one of them.

The good news is that aside being a platform to catch up with friends and families, many business deals are carried out on facebook, as various organisations advertise and display their products as a means to attract suitable customers.
But the bad news is that as amazing as we have found facebook to be useful in several ways, there are implications and loopholes if proper management is lacking in terms of protection and securing of our accounts.

This has led to different security breaches and losing of our original and primary accounts as a result of cybercriminal crisis. The most occurring one is HACKING/CRACKING into our account and locking us out.

The big question we should start asking ourselves is that how do we secure our facebook account from cybercriminal attacks? How can we ensure that an unknown user is prevented from getting access to our account? What are the signs that shows our account is under attack from an unknown user or source? What do we need to do to be in total control of our facebook account?

This discussion will not be swift enough if we don’t do justice to what HACKING really means. So, WHAT IS HACKING?

According to Duta Dictionary, [I]“HACKING[/] is a systematic act of gaining an authorized/unauthorized access to a computer WITHOUT the intention of causing damage”.[/b][/I]

You may wonder if this isn’t contradictory to what we initially thought. It ought to be the opposite, right?

But how about CRACKING?

Duta Dictionary also define [I]”CRACKING as a systematic method by which an individual, usually an unauthorized person who gains an unauthorized access to a computer with the intention of causing damage.[/I]

Please note the differences!!!

In summary, a HACKER[/b]is someone who gains an unauthorized/authorized access to our facebook account without the intention of causing damage. While a [b]CRACKER aims and objective is to cause damages and disharmony.

Please note that I will be using HACKING and CRACKING in the course of this presentation. Quickly take a moment to juxtapose between the two terms.

This discussion will be in two stages:
�� The seven (7) most common actions that makes our facebook account vulnerable to attacks
�� Tips on how we can secure our facebook account

SEVEN (7) COMMON ACTIONS THAT MAKES OUR ACCOUNT VULNERABLE TO ATTACKS[\b]

[b]1. WEAK PASSWORD
Majority of us are guilty of using guessable words and characters as our password which makes it easier for a potential cracker to try his lucks on turning us to his victims. Believe me, some are gifted in guessing right our password combinations just by looking at our profile. Most especially, our close associates, friends, and family members. Strong passwords combinations is the key in solving this weakness, and will be comprehensively discussed in the second stage.

*2. NOT LOGGING OUT FROM DEVICES THAT DO NOT BELONG TO US
Just as in 1 above, majority of us are also guilty of not logging out from a device we borrow to use to access our account, probably as a result of emergency or not having our device available for use. This is like giving your passcode of your safe to a potential thief. This action exposes all form of confidentiality and privacy contained in our account, as the owner of the device can later access our account when we don’t even know it. And in the process, may impersonate us or lock us out of our account.

3. LOSING ACCESS TO PRIMARY LOGIN EMAILS AND NUMBERS
Majority of facebook users often forget their logging details of their primary email they registered with on facebook, including their mobile number which may be used to restore their account in case a need arises. Most of the times, this primary email and number are required when there is problem logging in occurs (forgot password), as all necessary verification links/codes needed to verify your account in order to restore it back for you are sent to this email or number. And once you cannot provide or access this verification link or code, there is no way your account can be restored.

4. SAVING YOUR LOGIN DETAILS ON A PUBLIC DEVICE
Most browsers and third party apps request for permission to save our login details in case of subsequent visit on the site or computer if we are logging in to our account for the first time on such device. This usually happens at a cybercafé where we do online registrations or perhaps borrow a device that is not ours to complete an online applications. We should always avoid saving our details whenever browsers or any third party apps request for such permission and should always click NO to the request.

5. TRUSTING YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS WITH YOUR PASSCODES
As humans, we give in to emotions and expose ourselves to dangers as a result of trusting our friends and family members with our passcodes. We believe they can’t do any negative stuffs with our account. I want to let you know this and as a matter of fact, your passcodes to your facebook is highly confidential and should always be known only by you. Guide it like it is your key to the gate of heaven. Never trust anyone with your login details. I repeat, never trust anyone with your login details.

6. USING THIRD PARTY APPS AND CLICKING EXTERNAL LINKS
Within facebook, there are numerous third party apps that compliment facebook features. They can be in form of a video, game, ads, links as well as articles that will take you out of facebook platform. We should understand that some of this apps and links are meant to collect our personal and confidential data and send it to a potential cracker (Phishing). Learning to identify all this is key to having a protective facebook privacy and security.

7. NOT LOGGING OUT FROM OUR OLD DEVICES
Devices are changed from time to time. But more often, we forget to log out of our facebook account from our old devices before selling or giving them out. This give chances to any potential cracker to turn us to his victim.

If the above seven (7) vulnerable tips are avoided, I can assure you that your facebook account will be eternally secured.

Now that we have identified how the loopholes can be checkmated, let us look at tips that can help us secure our facebook account once and for all.

TIPS ON HOW WE CAN SECURE OUR FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

1. BE LOGICALLY SMART IN TERMS OF PASSWORDING
Most of us are bookworms, but are logically deformed when it comes to numbering and characterizing. By improving the relationship between characters and text combinations, we can create a very strong password. Imagine a password with 5 CAPITAL LETTERS, 5 NUMBERS, AND 3 CHARACTER SYMBOLS[/b]as a password? How is the look of that? Extremely strong, right? Let us create a strong password that will be close to impossible to guess.

[b]Always avoid to include your name, date of birth, lover’s name, phone number, team name etc in your password.

2. ALWAYS REVIEW DEVICES AND APPS THAT HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR ACCOUNT
As you use your account, there’s a tendency you have unconsciously or unknowingly clicked/saved some links, permitted some third party apps, or saved some devices that has collected and saved your personal data. Probably on monthly intervals, review apps and revoke access that has been given to them.

This can be done by going to SETTINGS>SECURITY AND LOGIN>WHERE YOU ARE LOGGED IN>CLICK ON ANY DEVICE YOU DO NOT WANT AGAIN AND LOG OUT FROM THEM.

3. USE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION
Facebook has a built in tool that enable two factors authentication method. This is used to confirm a log in to a new device after you must have entered your initial log in details. When enabled, facebook will send you a code to enter either to your email or number attached to your account. Or ask you to review your log in, should in case you are not the one. With this feature, unknown devices or cracking attempts can be detected first hand.

This can be set up by going to SETTINGS>SECURITY AND LOGIN>TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION>TURN ON

4. GET NOTIFICATION ALERT WHEN LOGGED IN FROM AN UNRECOGNIZED DEVICE OR LOCATIONS
Within facebook, you can set your account in such a way that you get notifications when your account is logged in from an unrecognized device or locations. Once activated, facebook will let you know that there is an attempt to log in from an unrecognized device or location. Immediately, you can reset your password and secure your account.

This can be done by going to SETTINGS>SECURITY AND LOGIN>SETTING UP EXTRA SECURITY>GET ALERTS ABOUT UNRECOGNIZED LOGINS.[/b]Here, you can use option to be notified on facebook messenger, email and facebook notifications.

5. OTHERS
There are so many other inbuilt security options on facebook that can help you monitor, secure and restore your account. This include options to choose 3-5 friends to contact if you get cracked and locked out.

And last but not the least is that, the best security tips is personal security. [I]Be discreet, be confidential.[/I]

On a final note, let’s avoid any action that will make us vulnerable. I plead with us to be vigilant and stay secured.