Yesterday, the social network, Facebook, was hacked which caused attackers to "possibly" gain access to nearly 50 million user accounts. The issue has been resolved by the #Facebook company, but there are still some precautions you can take to make sure you are not affected and to protect yourself in general.
If you have a Facebook account, here are some steps you can take:
1. Change your password.
This is a good idea especially if you are currently using a weak password or if you haven't changed it in a very long time. Passwords should be a mix of uppercase & lowercase letters, numbers and special characters (@%+!$#). You can change your password on Facebook by going to the Settings page, then clicking the Security & Login section, and then clicking on Change password. You'll have to enter your current password and the new one.
2. Check which devices (computer, iPhone) have recently logged into your account.
On the same Security & Login page within Facebook's settings, look under the Where You're Logged In section. Here you'll see a list of devices and locations. If you don't recognize a device or location, click the 3 dots next to it and then click Log Out. Any unknown device will be logged out of your Facebook account and unable to log back in as soon as you also change your password.
3. Turn on Two-Factor Authentication. Two-Factor Authentication is used on many websites these days. When it is turned on, what it means is that when you (or anyone for that matter) attempts to log into your account, a text message with a code will immediately be sent to your mobile phone. You will need to enter that code onto the Facebook website in order to be logged in. Without your phone and the code, the password won't be enough to login. To do this, on the same Security & Login page within Facebook's settings, look for Use two-factor authentication and turn it ON, if it is OFF.
For help with these steps or understanding internet security best practices, call me to set up a one-on-one session: 862-368-4893. Check out all of my Services here.
Stay safe out there...
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