Top 3 Effective Strategies to Secure Your Facebook Account

Facebook, the world's largest social media platform, has once again made headlines for all the wrong reasons. A recent data breach has resulted in the personal information of over 530 million users being leaked online. If you've been neglecting the security of your Facebook account, now is the perfect time to take action and protect yourself. In this article, we will discuss three tips and tricks that can help you secure your Facebook account and safeguard your personal information.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for Facebook

One of the most basic yet effective methods to enhance the security of your Facebook account is by enabling two-factor authentication (2FA). This feature requires an additional layer of verification, such as an OTP or 2FA code, when logging in to your Facebook account. Follow these steps to enable 2FA:

  1. Open the Facebook app on your device.
  2. Tap on the “More” menu at the bottom.
  3. Scroll down and select “Settings & Privacy.”
  4. Choose “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
  5. Select “Security and Login” from the Security tab.
  6. Tap on “Use two-factor authentication.”
  7. Under “Select a security method,” choose the recommended “Authentication app” option. Tap “Continue.”
  8. Copy the code to your device and use a reliable authentication app like Google Authenticator or Authy to set up 2FA.

From now on, whenever you attempt to log in to your Facebook account, you will be prompted to provide the 2FA code, adding an extra layer of protection.

Note: We recommend avoiding the text message method for 2FA, as there have been instances of SIM card cloning leading to unauthorized access to social media accounts.

Disable Facebook Tracking Among Mobile Apps

Have you ever wondered why you start seeing ads on Facebook related to your recent app or website activities? Facebook utilizes the off-Facebook activity option, allowing partner apps and websites to share your activity data with the platform for targeted advertising. If you're uncomfortable with this practice, here's how you can disable it:

  1. Open the Facebook app on your iPhone or Android device.
  2. Go to the “More” menu at the bottom right corner.
  3. Navigate to “Settings & Privacy” > “Settings.”
  4. Scroll down to “Your Facebook information” and select “Off-Facebook activity.”
  5. Choose “Clear History” and confirm the action in the pop-up menu. This will disconnect your activity history from your Facebook account.
  6. Tap the “Back” button and select “Manage Your off-Facebook activity.”
  7. You'll see a list of apps and websites sharing activity data with Facebook. Tap the three-dot menu in the upper right corner.
  8. Select “Manage Future Activity” from the pop-up menu.
  9. Facebook will provide information on how they use your off-Facebook activity data. Tap “Manage Future Activity” below.
  10. Disable the “Future off-Facebook activity” option from the menu.

By following these steps, you can prevent third-party websites and services from sharing your activity data with Facebook, thereby enhancing your privacy.

Remove Remembered Accounts

Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram have a convenient feature that remembers your account information for easy logins. While this may be convenient, it can also pose a security risk, especially when using a friend's device. Follow these steps to remove remembered accounts on Facebook:

  1. Open the Facebook app on your device.
  2. Log out of Facebook using the “Logout” option in the “Settings” menu.
  3. You will notice your account on the Facebook homepage.
  4. Tap on the little “Settings” icon at the bottom.
  5. Select your profile from the menu. Tap “Remove saved login info” to forget the account on the device.

By removing these remembered accounts, you ensure that your login data is not stored on devices that are not your own, thus reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are a couple more tips to further secure your Facebook account:

  • Always use a reliable third-party password manager like 1Password or Dashlane to generate and store strong, complex passwords for your Facebook account.
  • If you're using Facebook on an Android device, consider using an app lock service that adds fingerprint authentication to the app. Some device manufacturers like Xiaomi, Realme, and OnePlus provide this feature, or you can find third-party apps on the Play Store.

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly enhance the security of your Facebook account and protect your personal information from prying eyes. Take action today to ensure a safer online experience. And don't forget to check if your mobile number or email address has been part of any recent hacks using services like “haveibeenpwned”.