3 Ways To Protect Your Facebook Account From Hackers

The longer the password, the more difficult it will be for others to crack. One way to create a strong password is to think of a long phrase or series of words that you can remember, but that nobody would ever guess. Always include numbers, a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, and symbols in your passwords. Aim for at least 10 characters. Try making an acronym out of a memorable sentence or song lyrics. For example, “I’m gonna take my horse to the old town road” could be iGTMhtthotR9! Who would guess that?

You might even have a password manager built into your operating system. For example, if you have a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you can use the iCloud Keychain for free. If you’re using a browser that saves your passwords, such as Google Chrome, you’ll be required to enter a master password to see them in plain text. In the case of Chrome, you’ll have to enter your Google password. If it’s Microsoft Edge and you’re using Windows 10, you’ll have to confirm your default sign-in password or PIN.

If you must log in on a computer you don’t trust, you can request a one-time password from Facebook in some regions. [4] X Research source To do this, send a text message to 32665 (if you’re not in the US, see this list for your number) containing the letters otp. As long as your mobile phone is linked to Facebook, you’ll receive a 6-digit temporary passcode you can use in the “Password” blank to sign in. If it’s not possible for you to use a one-time password and you absolutely must sign in, change your Facebook password as soon as you’re back at your own computer, phone, or tablet. Avoid using the “remember password” feature on computers other than your own. If you sign in to Facebook on a public computer (or even at a friend’s house), you may see a “remember password” prompt that asks if you’d like to save the password. Choose the Not Now (or similar) option, or else other users of that computer can gain access to your account.

On a computer: Go to https://www. facebook. com/settings?tab=security. Click Edit next to “Get alerts about unrecognized logins. " Choose how to receive notifications and click Save Changes. On a phone or tablet: Open the Facebook app and tap the menu (the three horizontal lines) or the large F at the bottom-center. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy. Tap Settings. Tap Security and Login. Tap Get alerts about unrecognized logins. Choose how you want to receive alerts.

On a Computer: Go to https://www. facebook. com/settings?tab=security. Click Edit next to " Use two-factor authentication. " Select Use Text Message and follow the instructions to receive codes via SMS (most common), and follow the on-screen instructions. Select Use Authentication App to use an authentication app like Duo or Google Authenticator, and follow the on-screen instructions. Using a phone or tablet: Open the Facebook app and tap the menu (the three horizontal lines) or the large F at the bottom-center. Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings. Tap Security and Login. Tap Use two-factor authentication. Tap Use Text Message and follow the instructions to receive codes via SMS (most common), and follow the on-screen instructions. Tap Use Authentication App to use an authentication app like Duo or Google Authenticator, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Using a computer: Go to https://www. facebook. com/settings?tab=security. Click Edit next to “Choose 3 to 5 friends to contact if you get locked out. " Select Choose friends and follow the on-screen instructions. Using a phone or tablet: Open the Facebook app and tap the menu (the three horizontal lines) or the large F at the bottom-center. Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login. Tap Choose 3 to 5 friends to contact if you get locked out and follow the on-screen instructions.

Using a computer: Go to https://www. facebook. com/settings?tab=security. This shows you a list of currently signed-in locations near the top of the page. Click See more to expand the list (if given the option). To sign out of a session, click the three vertical dots and select Log Out. Or, if the session is not you (if you think you’ve been hacked), select Not You? instead and follow the on-screen instructions. Click Log Out of All Sessions to sign out everywhere you’re logged in. Using a phone or tablet: Open the Facebook app and tap the menu (the three horizontal lines) or the large F at the bottom-center. Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login. Locate the list of currently-signed in locations. Tap See all if necessary. To sign out of a location, tap the three vertical dots and select Log Out. Or, if you think you’ve been hacked, select Not You? and follow the on-screen instructions. Repeat until you’re signed out everywhere you want.

Using a computer: Go to https://www. facebook. com/settings?tab=security. Click View next to “See recent emails from Facebook”. Security emails are on the first page—tap OTHER EMAILS to see different types of Facebook emails. Click I didn’t do this or Secure your account if necessary. Using a phone or tablet: Open the Facebook app and tap the menu (the three horizontal lines) or the large F at the bottom-center. Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login. Tap See recent emails from Facebook. Tap I didn’t do this or Secure your account if necessary.

Using a computer: Go to https://www. facebook. com/settings?tab=privacy. Click Edit next to “Who can see your future posts?” to control your default posting privacy. Click Limit Past Posts to change all public (or friends-of-friends) posts to friends-only. Click Check a few important settings at the top of the page to run a privacy checkup for more settings to change. Using a phone or tablet: Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy Settings. Tap Who can see your future posts? to control your default posting privacy. Tap Limit who can see past posts to change all public (or friends-of-friends) posts to friends-only. Tap Check a few important settings at the top of the page to run a privacy checkup for more settings to change. To see what your profile looks like to other people (computer or mobile), go to your profile, click or tap the three horizontal dots (…) near the top of the page, and then select View as.

Be especially careful when clicking links in email messages from Facebook. Scammers may send emails that look like they are from Facebook but are rogue sites that steal your data. If you click or tap a Facebook link in an email and you see any domain name that isn’t “facebook. com,” do not enter your password or any other personal info.

If your birthday and location are viewable by your Facebook friends, and you regularly update your whereabouts, scammers might be able to use your details and updates to crack your passwords or even break into your home when they know you’re away on vacation. Be wary if you receive a friend request from someone you think you’re already friends with. Scammers often mimic real peoples’ profiles and try to make friends with their friends.

This also goes for sketchy looking websites, browser plug-ins and videos, and suspicious emails and notifications. If you ever receive an email asking for your password for any account that you have, do not respond. Reputable companies will never request your password over email.

To see your payment history on a computer, visit https://secure. facebook. com/facebook_pay/payment_history. If you’re using a phone or tablet, tap the three horizontal lines or blue-and-white “f”, tap Facebook Pay, and then scroll down to the “Payment History” section. To review your payment history, go to “Settings” and then click on the “Payments” tab.

To report a profile, go to the profile you want to report, click or tap the three horizontal dots (…) near the top, select Find Support or Report Profile, and follow the on-screen instructions. To report a problematic post, navigate to the post, click or tap the three horizontal dots (…) near the top, select Find Support or Report Profile, and follow the on-screen instructions. To report a message, open the message you’d like to report in Facebook (or Messenger on a phone or tablet), click the gear or tap the person’s name, and select Something’s Wrong. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Your computer may have malware on it if you have recently tried to watch a “shocking video” via a Facebook post; if you have visited a website claiming to offer special Facebook features; or if you have downloaded a browser add-on that claims to do the impossible (for example, allowing you to change the color of your Facebook profile). [9] X Research source

Messages claiming to contain your password as an attachment. Images or messages with links that don’t match what you see in your status bar when you hover over them. Messages asking for your personal information such as your password, credit card info, driver’s license, social insurance number, date of birth, etc. Messages claiming that your account will be deleted or locked unless you act immediately.