PROTECTING YOUR FACEBOOK ACCOUNT: QUICK TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

Facebook is part of everyday life for most people.  It lets people interact with friends, family, and colleagues. It also keeps them updated with recent events, the latest news, and more. Falling victim to a Facebook account hacker can be more than humiliating for some. Taking the necessary steps below can boost the security of your Facebook account.

Strong password

Creating a strong secure password will prevent hackers from accessing your account. Never include your name, birthdate, or common information in your password. The longer the password, the more difficult it will be to crack. You have to make sure you can remember your long password though. You would not want to lock yourself out by forgetting your own password. A phrase or series of words long enough for others but you can remember with ease is a great choice. Your password should be at least 10 characters. Make sure to include numbers, a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, and symbols. An acronym out of a memorable sentence or song lyrics would be best. A great example of this is using HtwMiabp92 for your password. It means, “Heal the world, make it a better place.” The 92 represents the year the song came out.

Change password

Changing passwords once every six months is ideal in most cases. This is best done not only for Facebook but for all your accounts. You can set a reminder on your calendar if you doubt you can remember to do it. As mentioned above, make sure you choose a password that is not easy for others to guess but easy for you to remember.

Two-factor authentication

Facebook offers this extra security feature for free. Take advantage of it to secure your account. It requests a security code every time you login from an unknown computer or device. There are two ways to receive the code. One is via SMS and the other is by using an authentication app. You can set up two-factor authentication on your computer or your device.

Advanced users choose to have their notification emails encrypted. This is only available on the website and not on the mobile app. The majority of Facebook users are not advanced users though. Some people only want to gain more friends while others have malicious intent. It is best not to accept friend requests from people you do not know. Be wary if someone without a mutual friend sends you a friend request. Scammers sometimes create fake accounts and befriend people.