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Scammers are constantly looking for ways to access your Facebook account. It doesn’t matter who you are; they want your information. They’re even stealing accounts from dog shelters. And if they get in, some users say recovering your account is a hassle. That’s why it’s important to make sure your account is locked down.<\/p>\n
Here’s how to keep your Facebook account secure and safe from any potential scammers or hackers.<\/p>\n
CLICK TO GET KURT\u2019S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS AND EASY HOW-TO\u2019S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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Facebook app on a smartphone<\/span> (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n1) Change your Facebook password\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\nOne of the biggest things you can do is use a secure password on your account. Make sure it’s different from your other accounts. However, with data leaks becoming more frequent, it would be wise to change your passwords frequently \u2014 we recommend every three months.<\/p>\n
How to change your password from your computer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\nLog into your Facebook account<\/strong><\/li>\nClick the Account <\/strong>icon at the top right of the page (where your Profile picture should be)<\/li>\nSelect Settings & Privacy<\/strong><\/li>\nSelect Settings<\/strong><\/li>\nFrom the menu on the left of the screen, in the “Meta Accounts Center,<\/strong>” click “See more in Accounts Center<\/strong>“<\/li>\nOn the next page, click “Password and security<\/strong>” towards the bottom of the left-hand navigation<\/li>\nSelect Change Password<\/strong><\/li>\nChoose an account to make changes. Select your Facebook account.<\/strong><\/li>\nEnter your current <\/strong>password and then your new<\/strong> one twice to confirm in the edit fields<\/li>\nTap on Change password<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHow to change your Facebook password from your iPhone<\/strong><\/h3>\nChanging your Facebook password from your iPhone is not much different from changing it from your computer. Here\u2019s what you do:<\/p>\n
\nOpen the Facebook app<\/strong> and make sure you are logged in with the account for which you want to change the password<\/li>\nTap the Facebook Menu<\/strong> button in the bottom right of the screen<\/li>\nNow tap Settings<\/strong> & Privacy<\/strong><\/li>\nClick Settings<\/strong><\/li>\nAt the top in the “Meta Accounts Center,<\/strong>” click “See more in Accounts Center<\/strong>“<\/li>\nOn the next page, click “Password and security<\/strong>“<\/li>\nSelect Change Password<\/strong><\/li>\nChoose an account to make changes. Select your Facebook account.<\/strong><\/li>\nEnter your current <\/strong>password and then your new<\/strong> one twice to confirm in the edit fields<\/li>\nTap on Change password<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHow to change your Facebook password from your Android<\/strong><\/h3>\nChanging your Facebook password from your Android also has very similar steps. Keep in mind that many Android phones act slightly different from one another, so these instructions may be similar, though not exact, for your phone and version of Android software.<\/p>\n
\nOpen the Facebook app<\/strong> and make sure you are logged in with the Facebook account for which you want to change the password<\/li>\nTap the three horizontal lines<\/strong> on the navigation bar at the top of the screen<\/li>\nTap Settings and Privacy<\/strong><\/li>\nThen tap Settings\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\nAt the top in the “Meta Accounts Center,<\/strong>” click “See more in Accounts Center<\/strong>“<\/li>\nOn the next page, click “Password and security<\/strong>“<\/li>\nSelect Change Password<\/strong><\/li>\nChoose an account to make changes. Select your Facebook account.<\/strong><\/li>\nEnter your current <\/strong>password and then your new<\/strong> one twice to confirm in the edit fields<\/li>\nTap on Change password<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nUse a password manager<\/strong><\/h3>\nConsider using a password <\/u>manager<\/u> to generate and store complex passwords for your Facebook account. It will help you create unique and difficult-to-crack passwords that a hacker could never guess. Second, it also keeps track of all your passwords in one place and fills in passwords for you when you\u2019re logging into an account so that you never have to remember them yourself. The fewer passwords you remember, the less likely you will be to reuse them for your accounts.<\/p>\n\n
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Facebook account on laptop<\/span> (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMORE: DON’T FALL FOR THAT \u2018LOOK WHO DIED\u2019 FACEBOOK MESSAGE TRAP<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n2) Set up two-factor authentication<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlso known as 2FA, two-factor <\/u>authentication<\/u> has become a standard security setting. Working from home has made this even more common, as companies want to make sure you\u2019re on a secure network before you use their programs. While it might seem annoying to follow a few extra steps to log in to your Facebook account, it\u2019s worth it to protect your account from anyone else getting in.<\/p>\n
Two-factor authentication requires you to approve a login on a separate device, so you\u2019ll need to enable this feature on a desktop computer and then make sure you have the Facebook mobile app installed and logged in on your smartphone. Here’s how to turn it on from your computer:<\/p>\n
\nClick the profile icon<\/strong> in the top right corner<\/li>\nClick Settings & privacy\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\nClick Settings<\/strong><\/li>\nAt the top in the “Meta Accounts Center,<\/strong>” click “See more in Accounts Center<\/strong>“<\/li>\nSelect Passwords and security<\/strong> on the left-hand sidebar<\/li>\nClick Two-factor authentication<\/strong><\/li>\nChoose your account<\/strong><\/li>\nFollow the prompts<\/strong> to enable two-factor authentication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHere’s how to turn it on from your smartphone:<\/p>\n
\nOpen the Facebook app<\/strong><\/li>\nTap the Facebook Menu<\/strong> button in the bottom right of the screen<\/li>\nNow tap Settings<\/strong> & Privacy<\/strong><\/li>\nClick Settings<\/strong><\/li>\nAt the top in the “Meta Accounts Center,<\/strong>” click “See more in Accounts Center<\/strong>“<\/li>\nOn the next page, click “Password and security<\/strong>“<\/li>\nClick Two-factor authentication<\/strong><\/li>\nChoose your account<\/strong><\/li>\nFollow the prompts<\/strong> to enable two-factor authentication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMORE: HOW TO OUTSMART CRIMINAL HACKERS BY LOCKING THEM OUT OF YOUR DIGITAL ACCOUNTS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n3) Set up alerts for logins from unrecognized devices<\/strong><\/h2>\nYou can opt in for text messages and email updates if anyone logs into your Facebook account from a device you haven\u2019t marked as a recognized device. You can also have the notification pop up on your Facebook app. Here’s how to set up alerts for logins from unrecognized devices on your computer:<\/p>\n
\nClick the profile icon<\/strong> in the top right corner<\/li>\nClick Settings & privacy<\/strong><\/li>\nClick Settings<\/strong><\/li>\nAt the top in the “Meta Accounts Center,<\/strong>” click “See more in Accounts Center<\/strong>“<\/li>\nSelect Passwords and security<\/strong> on the left-hand sidebar<\/li>\nScroll down, and under “Security Checks,” tap Login alerts<\/strong>.<\/li>\nClick the account <\/strong>you want to set up the alerts for logins from unrecognized devices<\/li>\nThen, check either in-app notifications<\/strong> or email\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHere’s how to set up alerts for logins from unrecognized devices on your smartphone:<\/p>\n
\nOpen the Facebook app\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\nTap the Facebook Menu<\/strong> button in the bottom right of the screen<\/li>\nNow tap Settings<\/strong> & Privacy<\/strong><\/li>\nClick Settings<\/strong><\/li>\nAt the top in the “Meta Accounts Center,<\/strong>” click “See more in Accounts Center<\/strong>“<\/li>\nClick “Password and security<\/strong>“<\/li>\nScroll down, and under “Security Checks,” click Login alerts\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\nClick the account <\/strong>you want to set up the alerts for logins from unrecognized devices<\/li>\nThen, check either in-app notifications<\/strong> or email<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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Facebook app<\/span> (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMORE: SCAMMERS ARE USING FAKE NEWS AND MALICIOUS LINKS TO TARGET YOU IN AN EMOTIONAL FACEBOOK PHISHING TRAP<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n4) Conduct a privacy checkup<\/strong><\/h2>\nConduct a Privacy Checkup<\/strong> on your account about once a month to ensure it is still secure. Facebook will guide you through settings so you can ensure your data settings, ad preferences and search settings are all as you\u2019d like them to be.<\/p>\n\nOn a computer, click the profile icon<\/strong> in the top right corner of your Facebook page to find Settings & Privacy, <\/strong>then tap Privacy Checkup. <\/strong>Facebook will then guide you through some settings so you can make the right choice for your account.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\nOn a mobile app, tap Menu<\/strong> at the bottom right, then tap Settings & Privacy<\/strong>, then Settings<\/strong> and tap Privacy Checkup<\/strong>. Facebook will then guide you through some settings so you can make the right choice for your account.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n5) Never click suspicious links on Facebook<\/strong><\/h2>\nDo not click on suspicious links on Facebook, even if they appear to come from a friend or a company you know. This includes links as posts or in emails. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself:<\/p>\n
Hover over the link:<\/strong> Most browsers show the actual destination URL when you hover your cursor over a link. Check if it matches the text displayed and looks legitimate.<\/p>\nReport suspicious links on Facebook.<\/strong> If you see a suspicious link on Facebook, be sure to report it<\/u>. This helps keep the platform safe for everyone.<\/p>\n Have good antivirus software: <\/strong>The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices<\/u>.<\/p>\nHow to recover your Facebook account if you\u2019ve already been hacked<\/strong><\/h2>\nYou may realize a hacker has taken over your account if you can\u2019t log in, or you may notice some red flags while still logged into your account \u2013 like posts you didn\u2019t create. If you\u2019ve already been hacked, follow these steps:<\/p>\n
\nThe first step is to check if you still have access to the phone number or email you set up your Facebook account.<\/li>\n If you do, go to facebook.com, make sure you\u2019re logged out of any other account and click Forgot Account<\/strong>.<\/li>\nFollow the on-screen instructions to receive a recovery link to your email or phone number.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIf you do not have access to the phone number or email associated with your Facebook account, head to