How To Protect Your Facebook Account from Hackers

The months September and October were not good for Facebook’s security system because of the virus  that hit Facebook. But it’s more important for an individual Facebook user to protect his/her own profile from these viruses than that for Facebook developers itself as some of the viruses or an attempt to hack your profile can use your profile to share explicit content on Facebook.

Well you don’t need to worry for your protection, rather just keep important things in mind but first of all you should be familiar with the ways you should protect your profile.

Attacks and Viruses:

>>Fake home page: This was the first major attack on facebook this year. A strange link was spread on the whole Facebook which leads you to a page similar to the login page with same design as Facebook but the URL was different. The link attackers used were similar to facebook.com. That means you are giving your user id and password to any other website which redirects you to your actual Facebook profile after entering your id and password.

>>Password reset E-Mails: A recent attack on Facebook which sends user an e-mail to reset your password. These e-mails were actually sent to infect the computer. To know more read: The latest Facebook virus via password reset e-mails.

>>Virus in Facebook inbox: Again a recent attack on Facebook. This sends profile friends a personal message which contains a link that re-directs you to an infected page. The link was actually sent by a hacked Facebook profile. Most of the links are now blacklisted with Malware warnings on them.

>>Facebook used on a public shared PC: This can be a reason of your Hacked public profile as well even if you logged out from your Facebook account.

PROTECTION:

>>Never share your password with anyone, not even with your best friends.
>>While logging in, always check that the login page is facebook.com not facebookie or anything else.

>>Never click on any link on Facebook, specially those which used an URL shortener unless and until it is  properly attached with the post/message.

>>Always delete cookies and clear the cache after using Facebook from a public shared computer.
>>Never left your profile logged in, somebody can misuse it just for fun.
>>Never ignore a warning from official Facebook.
>>Reset your password weekly or monthly. Reset your password immediately in case of strange activities.
>>Don’t download any file from Facebook as it can’t be official. Facebook is a social networking site not a file sharing system.
>>Don’t delete your hacked profile it can be recovered easily however you may deactivate your profile. For a hacked account read this official help.
>>Keep your system clean from malwares, malwares can be used to read the password while logging in.
>>Enter your personal details only when it’s asked by official Facebook even if it’s an E-Mail, check for it’s sender.

Just keep these tips in mind and enjoy Facebooking

Here are some other simple tips and tricks 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, your 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 an 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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