Facebook accounts are getting hacked and mis-used all the time, but there a few simple steps you can take to help prevent this from happening. In this article, we'll go through how to make your facebook account that little bit more secure and less likely to be hacked.
Account Security
First of all, have a look at your Account Security settings. Using the links on the top right of your page, go to Account -> Account Settings -> Account Security -> Change. This brings up a screen like this:
The most important part is Secure Browsing (https). You want this ticked, so that facebook will be used over a secure connection. You can check this is in place when you're on facebook by looking at the URL Address bar at the top of the page and checkign that it starts with https and not with http (insecure).
You can also set facebook up to alert you if somebody else logs into your account. To do this, you have to tell facebook which computer(s) you usually log in from, and it will then either email or text you if somebody uses your account from a different computer. This is useful if you always log in from the same small number of computers. If you regularly use a public computer (library, internet cafe) then it's probably not going to work, but might be worth trying anyway.
Facebook Adverts
This is not so much a security area, as a matter of personal preference. Facebook can tailor what adverts you and your friends see based upon what information you share with them. Personally, I prefer for none of my information to be used in adverts or for tailoring advertising to my friends.
Most importantly, one of these settings is for "what facebook will do in the future", so I would definitely lock it down until that moment arrives - at which point you can make an informed decision.
Account -> Account Settings -> Facebook Adverts (tab at the top) -> Adverts Shown by third parties -> Edit third party advert settings
I have this set to :
| If we allow this in the future, show my information to | No one |
The next setting is for advertising that is currently live on facebook.
Account -> Account Settings -> Facebook Adverts (tab at the top) -> Adverts and friends-> Edit social advert settings
Again, I don't want my actions (if i've 'liked' a page, for example) to be used alongside advertising for a particular company, to all my friends. So, again,
| Pair my social actions with adverts for | Only my friends No one |
Hopefully now, if you've followed the guides through to here, you should be confident that you know exactly what your facebook information is used for and who it is visible to.
No comments:
Post a Comment