Does your Facebook account keeps getting hacked? Here I will guide you on how to stop hackers from getting into your account. Hackers penetrate the Facebook account and change the password, email, and phone number of the account and in most cases enable a 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) on the Facebook account, making it impossible for the account’s original user to restore it.
What Happens After Someone Hacked Your Account?
If your account was hacked, the people who gain access can post anything they want. For a moment it might make people think it’s actually you. Any private conversations you’ve had over direction messages could be shared, your account could be used to share embarrassing photos of other people and more.
Facebook has some protections in place that can help you prevent this from happening. You need to turn on two-factor authentication. Doing this means you’ll need to enter a code that Facebook sends you each time you try to log in from a new device. It prevents someone from logging in with just your password.
How to Stop Your Facebook Account From Getting Hacked
Turn on Facebook 2FA
Your first step should be to ensure that two-factor authentication is activated on your Facebook account. 2FA requires the user to access a specific device or app whenever they log in. While 2FA makes logging in less convenient, it makes it more secure.
1. Log into your Facebook account and press the cog icon on your profile page.
2. Select the three horizontal dots menu icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
3. Scroll down the list and tap “Settings & Privacy.” In the drop-down menu, select “Settings.”
4. Under “Security,” select “Security and Login.”
5. Next, select “Use two-factor authentication.”
6. Under “Select a Security Method,” select “Text Message (SMS).”
7. Enter your phone number, then select “Continue.”
8. A six-digit code will be sent to your device. Enter it in the text box and then select “Continue.”
9. Two-factor authentication should now be enabled for your phone. When Facebook recognizes an unfamiliar device attempting to log into your account, it will send this code to your phone.
Two-factor authentication isn’t perfect. Avoid the “text message” option that can still leave you vulnerable to hackers who can gain access to your phone’s SIM card by calling your wireless carrier and tricking the company into transferring your number to another SIM card. But there are other options you can use.
Use a Unique, Strong Password
A vital factor in your account’s security is the password you use. It would help if you chose a password that is unique to your Facebook account. If you use the same password for every account you make, they become compromised if one of them gets hacked. To ensure your account’s safety, use a password generator to create a unique, strong password.
If you’re worried about trying to remember all your passwords, you can use a password manager. Both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox offer free password managers for all users. There are also paid-for services, such as 1Password or DashLane, that offer a premium service that can be installed on most mobile devices.
Keep Your Information Up-to-Date
You should be sure to keep your information on Facebook up-to-date. If you have to go through Facebook recovery, that information may be used to prove you’re the legitimate owner of the account. You should check to make sure your name, email address, date of birth, and phone number are correct on your account. If you see any red exclamation marks, you should address that data immediately.
Keep the passcode for your smartphone private. Similarly, do so for accounts linked to numerous devices, like your Apple ID and password, if you are an iPhone user.
Check your account’s privacy settings. This allows you to control who views your stories, sends you messages, and can see your location. This can prevent people from finding out your username.
You should only add actual friends to your contact list. Don’t link up with strangers. Yes, it might seem fun and frivolous, but it’s not worth risking your security and privacy.
Keep your browser and operating system updated with the most current versions and patches—patches are often released to address particular security threats. Be sure to also scan your computer regularly for viruses, spyware, and adware.
If you’re using a public computer, make sure you sign out of Facebook when you’re done.
Choose Third-party Apps With Care
There are many third-party applications built on the Facebook platform by external developers that you can use with your Facebook account(s). However, you should be cautious before giving third party applications access to your account.
If you wish to grant third-party application access to your account, I recommend that you only do so using Facebook’s OAuth method. OAuth is a secure connection method and doesn’t require you to give your Facebook username and password to a third party. You should be particularly cautious when you’re asked to give your username and password to an application or website, as third-party applications don’t need your username and password to be granted access to your account via OAuth. When you give your username and password to someone else, they have complete control of your account and can lock you out or take actions that cause your account to be suspended.
Evaluating links on Facebook
Many Facebook users post links using URL shorteners, like bit.ly or TinyURL, to create unique, shortened links that are easier to share in posts. However, URL shorteners can obscure the end domain, making it difficult to tell where the link goes to.
Some browsers, like Chrome and Firefox, have free plug-ins that will show you the extended URLs without you having to click on them:
- URL Expanders for Chrome
- URL Expanders for Firefox
In general, please use caution when clicking on links. If you click on a link and find yourself unexpectedly on a page that resembles the Facebook login page, do not enter your username and password. Instead, go to Facebook.com and log in directly from the Facebook homepage.