Facebook has grown to become the most popular social media platform with billions of users. Despite its success, the platform is faced with lots of security threats and that includes hackers who use malicious means to steal users’ information and take control of their accounts.
I haven’t gotten my Facebook account hacked before but I know that it can be very devastating to lose your Facebook account which is now more or less one’s property. Facebook is aware of these threats has introduced lots of security features to help users protect their accounts from hackers.
However, most Facebook users are ignorant of these features hence end up learning the hard way. So in this article, I will outline some of the methods you can use to secure your Facebook account and prevent it from getting hacked.
USE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Facebook security features I love and use. Most online platforms have also implemented the two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication simply means that, when your account is logged in from an unknown device, a code or a message will be sent to the registered phone on the account.
The user on the other end will be required to enter the code or approve the login by tapping yes on the phone. The hacker can only access your account if he has your phone with him which we all know is impossible. Once you disapprove the login, Facebook will secure your account and help you secure it by making you change your password.
If you don’t have this feature activated, please do so now by clicking on this link.
USE STRONG PASSWORDS
Before the two-factor authentication was introduced, using strong passwords was and still remains one of the best ways to secure your Facebook accounts. A strong password doesn’t mean long password. A strong password is a mixture of alphabets, symbols, numbers, lower and upper cases. Such passwords are impossible to hack and make your account more secure.
A password like youngboy864ismyname might look long but is very easy to hack as compared to a password like So9@r1t!. If you have difficulty remembering your password, write it down.
LIMIT APP ACCESS
I see friends on Facebook partake in quizzes such as ‘How will you look when you’re old’, ‘Are you a virgin’, etc. They give away their data unknowingly and sometimes allow those apps access to their account details in order to use them.
Some of these quizzes and apps might seem harmless but they can cost you your account. Giving them access to your details is like inviting a thief to your home, you’ll surely get robbed. Always make sure you check the details these apps want you to share with them before allowing them access to your account.
Also, remember to review apps that have access to your account and delete the ones you deem not important. Click on this link to see the apps that have access to your account and also remove the ones you don’t want.
I recommend you give access to only trusted apps and always remember to revoke this access once you stop using the app.
TURN ON ALERTS
Facebook has a feature that sends you notification anytime your account is logged in from an unknown device. For instance, if you log in your account on a new laptop or a friend’s laptop or even a from an internet café, Facebook will send you a notification about that login. Same applies when someone else does same.
This alert will be sent to the email address or registered phone number of the account. If you’re not the one who initiated the login, Facebook will help you secure your account immediately.
You have to activate this feature in order to enjoy its benefits by clicking on this link.
With all these features activated on your Facebook account, be rest assured your account is fully secured and far from the reach of hackers. I have used them to keep my account save for almost a decade and you can too.
If you have other tips on how to keep your Facebook account safe from hackers, share them with us in the comment section.
