How to Secure Your Facebook Account From Hackers

Over the years, you may have had more than a few friends who have had their Facebook accounts hacked. One of the easiest signs of this is when a Facebook friend sends you a random message with suspicious language and a link attached. Or, maybe a lot of spam-like posts are appearing on their Facebook wall. Unfortunately, it can be incredibly easy for hackers to steal your Facebook login information — especially if your account isn’t secure. To protect your Facebook app from intruders and other malicious individuals, use DFNDR’s App Lock feature. Click here to lock your Facebook app with a second password:

It’s important to secure your Facebook app because your account stores a lot of sensitive, personal information about you. Think about it: you may have your full name listed, in addition to your contact information (phone number and email accounts), social media accounts, your family members, your employment and education history, your photos, and your interests, among others. That’s all information that a hacker could use against you. Luckily, there are several additional steps you can take to further secure your Facebook account.

Update Your Facebook App

Your friends have all updated their Facebook app, and they’re warning you not to update your app because the new version is terrible. This is bad advice: you should always update your apps whenever a new update becomes available. These updates often contain crucial bug fixes and security patches that can make your account more secure.

Change Your Passwords

One of the most common ways for a hacker to gain access to your account is by stealing your login information. As with your other online accounts, be sure to change your Facebook password regularly — at least twice per year. Changing your password more frequently could ultimately make your account less secure. Create strong passwords, and don’t reuse old passwords or passwords from other accounts.

Avoid Suspicious Accounts and Activity

This goes for random Facebook friends messaging you, in addition to unknown friend requests, or even a friend posting a weird link on your wall. Don’t click on unusual links (even if a friend sends it), and don’t accept a friend request from anyone you don’t know.

Be Aware of Unusual Activity

If you think your Facebook account has been hacked — or if you just want to be cautious — check your account activity under Facebook’s settings every now and then. You can access this by going to “Settings” > “Security” > “Where you’re logged in.” Make sure that all of the devices that are accessing your account are yours. You can also set up login alerts (whenever your account is accessed) for additional security.