If you are reading this article then probably you have a Facebook account and want to secure it.
Facebook was launched in 2004 and now, after 16 years, it currently has more than 2.6 Billion active users on monthly basis. Such a huge user database can attract many cybercriminals who are lurking for your personal data.
If you are not alert enough about your social media presence on Facebook then a small mistake can lead to major data theft and monetary fraud.
1) What Personal Data are Available on Facebook?
2) Security Settings for a Secure Facebook Account
2.2) Use Two-Factor Authentication
2.3) Apps and Website Integration
2.4) Check from which devices you are logged in
2.6) Choose Your Trusted Contacts
2.7) Account Memorialization Settings
What personal data are available on Facebook?
You might know all these points as you are using Facebook for a long time, but still, check out these points as a reminder.
1) Your Full Name
2) Your Pictures
3) Your Mobile Number
4) Your Email ID
5) Details of your friends and family
6) Your Location
7) Your Hobbies
8) When & where you are going on vacation
And many more data depends on your online Facebook activity.
These many personal data can easily be used by any cybercriminal against you.
But, don't worry, we will discuss some of the important security settings that Facebook provides which can secure your account easily.
Security Settings for a Secure Facebook Account
1) Strong Password
Password - one of the most basic and important settings.
Your password is the first and the best security mechanism which can keep cybercriminals away from your account.
Keep your password as strong as possible for all your critical online accounts. To know more about how you can create a strong password check out our post "Creating Strong & Unhackable Passwords - Beginner's Guide".
Create a strong password for your Facebook account using the method we have described in that post and for better security do remember to change your password every 2-3 months.
Change your Facebook password from
Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Login > Change Password
Note: Screenshots displayed in this article are taken from Facebook's Android app.
Similar options are available in the Facebook iOS app and in the Web version.
|
| Change Password Option in Facebook |
Use can also use a password generator and password manager to store the password safely.
2) Use Two-Factor Authentication
A strong password is also sometimes not enough to secure your account.
To save us due to this vulnerability another great security option is available - Two Factor Authentication.
To know about Two Factor Authentication in detail check out our earlier post "What is Two Factor Authentication or 2FA?"
To enable this feature on Facebook go to
Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Two-Factor Authentication > Use two-factor authentication
|
| 2FA option in Facebook |
When it is enabled, you will sign in using your password and an additional security code, which you will usually get from your mobile phone.
|
| Two Factor Authentication Options |
Facebook has two options for two-factor authentication. In the first one, you can generate the security code using any Authenticator app such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator. Code generated in these authentication apps will be used during sign-in.
The second option is a text message (SMS), in which you will receive a one-time password to sign in to your account in your registered mobile number.
3) Apps and Websites Integration
Many third-party apps, games, and websites use your Facebook login credentials to log in to their apps or website. You might be using many of these till now and you might also not remember all those apps and games.
Some examples are Flipboard, Candy Crush Saga, PUBG Mobile, BookMyShow, and many more.
Facebook gives you an option for reviewing all these logins and you can also remove the access now if you are not using those services currently.
|
| Apps and Website Option in Facebook |
To review all these apps, games, and website access on Facebook go to
Settings & Privacy > Settings > Apps and Websites > Logged in with Facebook
You can also turn off this feature of log in using the Facebook credentials in any third-party apps, games, or websites.
To turn off this feature go to
Settings & Privacy > Settings > Apps and Websites > Apps, Websites and Games
4) Check from which devices you are logged in
You can review all the log-in devices and locations you are logged in to your Facebook account.
To review all login sessions go to
Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Where you're logged in
If you don't identify any login session then you can log out from that using this setting. You can also be able to log out from all the active sessions in just one click with this option.
You can also set an alert if your Facebook login attempt is detected from an unknown or new device/location.
|
| Facebook Extra Security Option |
To turn on this feature go to
Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Setting Up Extra Security > Get alerts about unrecognized logins
You can select the options to get a notification of Facebook login, over email, Facebook, or on Messenger.
5) Do Privacy Checkup
All the information and media that you share on Facebook are visible to your friends and even to the general public if you don't have any control over them. Facebook provides you a security option to control the sharing behavior of your account, which means that you can control who can see all your personal information on Facebook.
To check your privacy settings go to
Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy Settings > Check a few important settings > Privacy Checkup
|
| Privacy Checkup |
From this option, you can run a quick checkup review, from which you can see and change the current privacy settings of your account as per your privacy needs.
Facebook has made this process very simple so that you don't need any special technical skills to understand all these settings.
We recommend you to do your Facebook account Privacy Checkup now and on a regular basis to update any outdated settings as per current requirements.
6) Choose Your Trusted Contacts
This is an account recovery option that Facebook provides to you which can be used if you accidentally lock up your profile or forgot your password or any cybercriminal has breached your account.
|
| Choose Your Trusted Contacts |
This feature will allow you to pick three to five friends you can call if you can’t able to access your account. Your those trusted contacts will provide you the necessary codes to get access to your account.
To set up trusted contacts go to
Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Setting Up Extra Security > Choose 3 to 5 friends to contact if you get locked out
Be sure to add the name of your trusted contacts carefully, whom you really trust on and at the time, when they are required, then they can give you the codes correctly.
7) Account Memorialization Settings
Account memorialization means the ways a Facebook account can be controlled after the account holder is passed away.
|
| Memorialization Options in Facebook |
To set up a memorialization option go to
Settings & Privacy > Settings > Your Facebook Information > Account Ownership and Control > Memorialization Settings
Once a user is passed away, a cybercriminal can still breach into his/her idle Facebook account and get access to important personal data. So to save from such incidences Facebook provides you two options;
> Legacy Contact
In this option, you can set up someone's account like your spouse or some trusted friends who can control your Facebook account when you pass away.
> Deactivate Your Account After Death
If you select this option, then Facebook will delete your account permanently when someone informs them that you have passed away. All your posts, messages, photos, and comments will be permanently deleted.
Bonus Step
Delete Your Facebook Account (Best Solution of All Issues)
One thing you must agree with me that, if you want to be safe and secure in this online world then the best option is to don't share any of your personal information online. And to do this the best option is to delete your Facebook account as it contains a lot of your personal data which can be used against you at any time by cybercriminals.
To delete or temporarily deactivate your Facebook Account go to
Settings & Privacy > Settings > Your Facebook Information > Account Ownership and Control > Deactivation and Deletion
 |
| Delete Facebook Account |
You can also consider this option if you feel that your account is hacked or breached by any cybercriminal.
Conclusion
These were the 7 important security settings that you can select carefully to secure your Facebook account. But don't neglect the basic practices when you are accessing your Facebook account from a public PC.
Or you can use that bonus step to solve all your privacy issues at once 😁.
Share this with your friends and family if you find this article informational.
1 Comments
You provided too much useful information
ReplyDeleteThanks and also read