Several times a month I learn that one of my friends on Facebook has been hacked.
Here are some simple practices that will help to prevent that from happening.
#1 – ENABLE HTTPS
When you bookmark the URL for Facebook or any of your other social networks, be sure to use HTTPS
instead of HTTP. This encrypts your
communications.
In fact, you will have to temporarily disable this feature any time you give access to a new application.
That alone should give you confidence that you have
achieved a greater level of protection.
#2 – DISABLE ONLINE CHAT
All of us have witnessed Facebook scams, with the
most common being the infamous chat message … “I’m in the UK and have been mugged – please send money
so I can get back home.”
While I have no technical basis for this, it stands to
reason that the hackers get in through the chat
service. Every time I have noticed bogus comments allegedly made by me to my Facebook friends, it is because I had previously used the online chat.
To disable chat just click on the little wheel in the right sidebar and take yourself offline. Then close
the window and make sure is registers as chat offline.
#3 – REVIEW PERMISSIONS GRANTED
TO THIRD PARTY APPS
When you grant access to Facebook apps, those permissions endure long after you stop using them.
Go to this link to review your Facebook app permissions – and disable any you are no longer using.
You will probably be surprised at the long list
permissions your have previously granted!
#4 – ACTIVATE TEXT MESSAGE
NOTIFICATIONS
Facebook allows you to receive text notifications
whenever your account is accessed from a device
other than your primary computer or mobile device.
You simply go to Account Settings and then to
Security Settings to set-up the proper
notifications to your mobile device.
First go to login approvals – then login notifications.
You can only choose email or text notifications. By
choosing text notifications you not only get an
immediate notice, but you also activate both your
mobile device and your primary computer as approved
access points.
#5 – MAINTAIN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
EMAIL ADDRESSES
The email address you use for Facebook should be
distinct from the one you use where security is more
critical – such as your online banking or Paypal
account.
If your Facebook account gets hacked its
embarrassing. If that is the same email used on your
more secure accounts, now that vulnerability could be
costly.
Obviously, if you are selective with your email
addresses and periodically change your passwords,
you minimize your chances of being hacked.
Did you know that anyone can search Facebook for an
email address? For example, if you are looking a
common name such as John Smith, you only need to
search with their email to find the right one.
This is handy for finding your friends on Facebook, but
also useful for hackers. The safe bet is to use
distinct passwords for your public and private email
addresses.
There are even more ways to protect your Facebook
and other online accounts, but these 5 are the most
essential, and they are specific to Facebook, which
seems to be the site that is the most vulnerable.
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