Block Hackers & Keep Your Data Safe! Ultimate Guide to Securing Your Facebook Account in 2024: Block Hackers and Safeguard Your Privacy.
With over 2.91 billion monthly active users, Facebook is a treasure trove of personal data and a prime target for hackers. Protecting your account in today’s digital landscape is crucial, and this comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and best practices to keep your Facebook safe from prying eyes and malicious actors.
Why is Facebook account security important?
Facebook accounts hold a wealth of personal information, including:
- Names and contact details
- Photos and videos
- Messages and conversations
- Private information like birthdays and addresses
- Linked accounts and financial data
Falling victim to a hacked Facebook account can have serious consequences, such as:
- Identity theft
- Financial loss
- Damage to your reputation
- Loss of control over your online presence
By taking proactive steps to secure your account, you can prevent these issues and enjoy a safer, more secure Facebook experience.
Essential steps to protect your Facebook account:
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Fortress your password: Ditch the weak passwords based on birthdays or pet names! Craft a strong, unique password that is at least 12 characters long and includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Consider using a password manager to generate and store your passwords securely.
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Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second code, usually sent to your phone or email, when logging in from an unrecognized device. Think of it as a double lock on your Facebook door!
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Practice phishing vigilance: Phishing scams are clever attempts to trick you into revealing your login credentials. Be wary of suspicious emails, links, or messages, even if they appear to come from friends or Facebook itself. Never enter your password unless you’re sure you’re on the official Facebook website.
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Mind your app permissions: Third-party apps you connect to Facebook can access your data. Only grant permissions to apps you trust and regularly review the apps connected to your account. Revoke access to any you no longer use.
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Privacy settings under control: Regularly review and adjust your Facebook privacy settings to control who can see your information and posts. Limit the visibility of sensitive information like your birthday, address, and phone number.
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Beware of suspicious activity: Keep an eye out for any unusual activity on your account, such as unrecognized login attempts, changes to your profile information, or spam posts. If you notice anything suspicious, immediately report it to Facebook and change your password.
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Software smarts: Keep your operating system, web browser, and antivirus software up to date to patch vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.
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Log out, log off: When you’re done using Facebook, always log out properly, especially on public or shared computers.
By following these essential steps and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce the risk of your Facebook account being hacked and safeguard your valuable online privacy. Remember, your Facebook security is in your hands!
Bonus tips for extra protection:
- Use a dedicated email address for your Facebook account to avoid linking it to other online accounts.
- Be cautious about what you share publicly on Facebook.
- Enable login alerts to be notified of any unrecognized login attempts.
- Regularly review your trusted contacts list and remove anyone you no longer trust.
Remember, online security is an ongoing process. By staying informed and implementing these best practices, you can create a strong defense against hackers and maintain a secure and enjoyable Facebook experience.
How to Protect your Facebook Account from Hackers
There are different ways hackers can hack into your Facebook account, and for that purpose some hackers use advanced softwares, which Facebook has played their own part to stop by building shields against those softwares. But unfortunately, your Facebook account can still be hacked, if you cannot play your own part.
As a developer and tech savvy, I will show you different ways hackers can get into your Facebook account and how you can stop them.
The best way to protect your account against hackers is to learn how hacking is done. There is saying, “a guy cannot guy a guy”, meaning you cannot trick some one who is more intelligent than you.
So, become more intelligent than the hackers if you don’t want to become a victim. You need to learn how hacking
is done, not to practice it but for education and self-protection.
Below are what you must do to be safeguard your Facebook account:
1. Do not use your phone number or name as your password
Guessing passwords (or social engineering) is another way hackers can hack Facebook accounts. This involves
thinking and guessing about a password.
Since most people still use their phone number as a password, hackers perform trial-and-error method when trying to hack a Facebook account.
On the login page, they enter the victim’s phone number as password, which they must have gotten from victim’s profile to try if it would work.
Tip: hide your phone number from your Facebook profile, and never use your phone number as your Facebook password.
2. Don’t enter your Facebook login details on a phishing website:
Phishing attacks are simple ways hackers can extract your Facebook password by presenting to you a fake website that exactly looks like Facebook login page.
A phishing website looks very similar to Facebook website, but if you check the URL, you will see it is not Facebook.
Some hackers would send a phishing web link that seems to contain a pon. If you are the type that like watching po n, you are likely to fall for this. Once you click on the link to watch the po*n, it would require your login to your Facebook account. If you enter your Facebook login details on that page, the hacker’s phishing website will extract your login information and send to the hacker.
Tip: Always use Facebook app to login to your account. But if you must use browser, ensure you are at m.facebook.com/login or www.facebook.com/login. Another URL different from the one above is fake.
3. Do not Send your Facebook password reset code to anyone
A hacker once called me, claiming to be a Facebook manager. He said I won N15,000 cash price from Facebook, and that he would send a verification code to me after which my bank account would be credited.
While still on phone, he reset my password (by clicking on ‘forget password’ link on Facebook login page), and I got a reset verification code via SMS. He asked me to call out the code, but I burst into laugher because a guy is trying to guy a guy.
This means the hacker must have gotten my phone number or email address from my profile, but do not know the password, and he must also have checked if I used my phone as Facebook password.
Our advice
To effectively protect your Facebook account from hackers.