Living in an open massive community like Facebook security does matter. Privacy and security exists for a reason. Most people fail to configure how their Facebook settings are done which leads them many cyber-threats, such as cyber-bullying, cyber-theft and many other.
Recommended: The Biggest Cybersecurity Threats of 2013 (Forbes)
The following 51 Tips will help you if you are a parent, teen, teacher or any public figure such as Pulok Chatterji. We have covered almost every security tips from beginner to intermediate to advance, to give you the complete 51 ways to secure your Facebook account. Stay Safe and Secure!
1. Secure Passwords
Combine Uppercase, lowercase and special characters to make your password more stronger. Use 'password manager' (Google it!) tool such as Last Pass. Online password generator tool PasswordsGenerator.net can also be used for generating strong passwords. Grant Thompson shows how you can create strong and passwords without any tool and how to remember it as easy as pie.
2. Deselect Remember Me
If you use shared computer or access Facebook from public cyber-cafes, be sure to deselect the 'Keep me logged in' box before logging in. Why? because if it is checked, the next person end up opening your Facebook account after your session expired.
3. Enable Secure Browsing
Head on to Security tab under Settings and select 'Browse Facebook on a secure connection (https) when possible' and Save Changes. This allows you to browse Facebook under secure 128-bit encrypted connection. This means you will surf Facebook under clean and secure environment, none of your information can be traced by spywares or other hackers.
4. Identity Verified Using Extra 's'
Be sure to check an extra 's' in https while logging in to Facebook or any other websites, you submit your personal information. If its green means you are safe and if red indicates unsafe. According to Wikipedia 'Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is a communications protocol for secure communication over a computer network'. What is HTTPS? (explained video).
5. Adding Friends
Before confirming someone as your friend or sending someone request make sure the person is the original owner of the profile. Facebook is meant for the person you know in real life. Adding up wrong person you might end up with sharing your personal information to them.
6. Private Is Private
There are many things in life around you which need not to be shared every time. Try to understand its just a open community not your personal diary. Most important your detailed location every time you need not to be share even not with your friends. If you need to meet with group of friends just message them in chat.
7. Job Seekers
Facebook is slowly taking over LinkedIn, some people used to make their resume or link or any other ID cards, documents scanned copies available for public in thought that companies may find them or contact them for job, which is not right thing to do.
Try publicly giving a brief description of your qualification and any some minute official details about your work. If they are interested they will contact you itself. This way you will secure many of your private information.
8. Principle Of Facebook's World
Like any school and colleges Facebook does carry Principles to guide the goal of making Facebook more transparent and open, which will create great understanding and connection. Read Facebook's 10 Principles.
9. Email Account Is Important
If someone gets access to your email, they will get also access to you Facebook account too easily. How? Sending forget password request to your email. From there anyone having your email account will update your password to a new one. The password you know will be of no use because it is updated by someone else having access to your email. It is most important to also keep your Email account safe.
10. Update Your Password
I don't think I need to tell this but its really the most simple and important thing to update your password regularly. Consider changing it once in a month and follow the first tip to create strong password.
11. If Possible Log Out
Another most important thing is to log out if you are on shared computer. If not on shared computer Fusiq recommends you still need to log out. Why? There are times when someone just want to use your laptop and you can't even say no! Hence, your account is now controlled by someone else. If possible Log Out.
12. Update The Mighty Browser
Browser plays an important role the way you view the web. Without browser you can't imagine web. Fusiq recommends using Google Chrome Browser. An outdated browser contains loopholes which helps hackers to snoop into your account.
13. Browsing In Private Mode
Browsing in Private or Incognito mode won't keep any browser history, search history, download history, web form history, cookies, or temporary internet files. However, files you download and bookmarks you make will be kept. So the owner or another user will not be able to find out what you have just browsed. This is highly recommend when your are using public devices to log in.
14. Private Browsing Shortcuts
- Chrome: Control/Command + Shift + N
- Opera: Control/Command + Shift + N
- Firefox: Control/Command + Shift + P
- Internet Explorer: Control + Shift + P
- Safari: Select Private Browsing from Safari menu.
15. Choose Wisely Status Audience
There is everyone in Facebook, you school teacher, friends, secret business partners, family, ex-girlfriend and the public. Think for few more seconds and choose your audience wisely who will find them interesting without bothering anyone else. Every particular Information need not to be share with everyone!
16. Limit Your Phone Number Audience
You do not need to share your contact number with everyone of your friend on Facebook. Try keeping them to those who need the most. Try using Specific People or List to mange them. Head on to your About page > Contact Information and Edit the tab of Mobile Phones or Other Phones.
21. Suspicious Downloads
Be careful what you download on Facebook. Check the quality of the link whether it uses https or not (see Tip #4). Think before you click, some are fake files you are only used to collect your Facebook personal information or adding key-loggers or spywares to your computer (see Tip #17).
You do not need to share your contact number with everyone of your friend on Facebook. Try keeping them to those who need the most. Try using Specific People or List to mange them. Head on to your About page > Contact Information and Edit the tab of Mobile Phones or Other Phones.
17. Get An Anti-Virus For Your Machine
Hacking your Facebook account becomes even easier if your machine has no anti-virus software. Some how while browsing spywares and Trojans enters your system and collects each and every information you are doing through your machine. Got it? Yes correct, they will know your password you typed during accessing Facebook. As simple as that and you will have no idea how it happened.
18. You Are A Superhero
Its has been seen many of the Facebook users like mom and grand-parents are not quite tech geek, sometimes kids and teens as well. They often fail to cope with the technology up. Which is obviously not the bad thing, and here comes our responsibility to help them. Helping everyone is what a technology geek should follow and same thing I do here too. Send them this guide you are reading which will definitely help them more than you thought.
19. Learn Even More About Safety And Security
www.connectsafely.org, helps everyone socializing smartly. www.fosi.org, is an international, non-profit organization which works to make the online world safer for kids and their families. www.staysafeonline.org, help you to learn more about cyber-security issues and digital safety tips.
20. Privacy Shortcuts Handy Tool
Head on to the top right corner of Facebook bar and click the Privacy Shortcut button. This tool is one of the most greatest foundation of Facebook Security. These settings allowing you to easily secure your Facebook account to who can see your future posts and who can contact you and more.
Be careful what you download on Facebook. Check the quality of the link whether it uses https or not (see Tip #4). Think before you click, some are fake files you are only used to collect your Facebook personal information or adding key-loggers or spywares to your computer (see Tip #17).
You can request on-time passwords when accessing Facebook from an untrusted or public device If you are in US. First make sure your mobile device is on file and associated with your Facebook account. Then you can sent "otp" in a text message to 'FBOOK' [32665] from your registered device. You will then receive a text reply with a temporary password. Check out the list of different carrier and countries supported.
23. Remove Unusual Tags Of You In Bunch
It is important to maintain your profile and keep it clean and clear. People sometimes unusually tag you into something and you don't want to appear it in. You can easily just untag it by going to Activity Log > Posts You're Tagged In. Click on the gear icon of the post and click Report/Remove Tag... from there check I want to untag myself box and finally click Remove Tag.
24. Review Tags Before Appearing On Timeline
Head On to Activity Log > Posts You're Tagged In. In the top right corner behind Notification select the Gear icon and Select Enable from the list. Why? Help you choosing which tags are genuine and which you really want to be tagged in. You can unusual tag posts before appearing them to your timeline.
25. Be authentic
The real you is better than anything you might pretend to be.You don not need to provide each and every information to be authentic. Simply setup a mind what you want to share and what not.
26. Private Family Facebook Group
Create a Facebook group for your family so you will have a private space to share photos and keep in touch. Read, Learn and Educate you kids without worrying who is seeing it.
27. Don't Share You Password.
Most Important point in the list is not to share your password with anyone. People might ask your password in return of many fake things such as game points, free software and much more. Report it to Facebook.
28. Time For Second Account
If you are on Facebook for their time-pass games, create a different account. No need to post your true information and all other stuffs.
29. Yes You Are Kid
Its not legal to use Facebook if you are under 13 years of old Facebook's Terms of service says. That's very much that it will not cover your Facebook insurance for bullying of being harmed in any of the cases.
30. Stop Getting Addicted
The more you are far the less you will get affected. Facebook is addicted believe me or not. So try to keep far as possible from it. You have life to live and many things can also be done without Facebook. Remember the days when we do not have Facebook? Exactly those days where social media not social gathering are carried out. Start a community in your locality, meet people at least they don't poke you!
31. Stop Spamming
The more likely you keep the community safe the more likely it will serve you better. Stop spamming and begging for likes on your Fluffy pages. If they are good and interesting you will automatically likely to get discovered.
32. Statement of Rights and Responsibilities
Got a minute re-read the terms you agree to when you use Facebook. read it here.
33. Account Hacked
If your account was taken over by someone else, secure it here.
34. Block If Someone Irritates You
You can block someone to unfriend them and prevent them from starting conversations with you or seeing things you post on your timeline. Before heading to this you should ask him/her to stop doing in a good manner, if this plays wrong block them.
35. Here Is How To Block
To block someone: here is how to.
36. Some Contents Are Still Not Deleted
Yes, even if you delete some photos, videos or any other uploads there are chances Facebook still not deletes a copy from its server. For some security and helpful reason Facebook does that. Read it here. So be sure what to post, take you time.
37. Beware Of Games And Apps
Apps and Games collects your data if you choose to let them access you account during Authorizing a new app with your account. Be sure to check the popularity of the app, whether it is trusted or not and read the terms of services what else they collect from your account.
38. Clean Your Desk And Cookies
In Chrome Press Ctrl+Shift+Del to clear your cookies and other browsing data possibly everyday. Or you can you free app such as CCleaner which has multi-purpose use to keep your PC safe and clean.
39. Stop Sharing Your Location
Its better to keep yourself in the safe side. As technology is emerging it is possible to know your current location if you are on a subway or dinner with your kids. Easily hackers can snoop on to your computer to collect your local information. Disabling Facebook from collecting your current location will keep you in safe side. If you are on Chrome move to the green lock icon and click it. Head on to Permissions > Location and select Always block on this site.
40. Turn Off Location In Android
By default Facebook's Android app and Messenger location sharing is turned on. Head on to Settings to turn it off.
If you don't want to let Uncle Amit to see your last night party pics hide them and see how the sees your Facebook account. Head on to your timeline, click on gear box and select View as... Wait to reload and click View as Specific Person, type your Uncle's name. This is how they see your profile.
42. Facebook Is Going Pro
Scammers tell victims that Facebook is now going to start charging users for their accounts. Or else they are going to delete your lovely last party photos or even account too. The scammer sends taking users to a page where they are required to submit their credit-card information. Believe me still now Facebook is free!
43. I'm Your Dear Friend Help Me
It might happen some of your near and dear friend got hacked his Facebook account and someone else is requesting you for money and other stuffs. You may think your friend is in real danger and you will try to help him someway. Take care of them by not falling in to their trap. Scammers and Hackers are behind it.
44. Don't Try To Be Seller
Its against Facebook's Terms of services to sell your personal account. You may fall in big danger. The best way if you are not using your account is to clear all your information and Delete your account not deactivate.
45. Deactivating Vs Deleting
Deactivating your account causes Facebook to still hold your data to their servers. The second time after months or even years after deactivating your account if you again login your account will be back. So Deleting is the best choice.
46. Never Post on Facebook
There are things you should never post on Facebook such as You or Your Family's Full Birth Dates, Your Relationship Status, Your Current Location (See Tip #39 & #40), The Fact That You Are Home Alone and Pictures of Your Kids Tagged With Their Names.
47. Spot A Facebook Hacker
You really know the language how your friend used to speak. Right? If you are sure enough that his/her account has been compromised report it to Facebook fast. This will save your friend's personal information not leak at least if you are at the right time.
48. Backup Your Data
Its really easy now Facebook made to backup all your chats, photos, information. Backup weekly or monthly according to your use. Why? Who knows your account might hacked, deleted or disabled. Always be on the safe side.
49. Lear More From Facebook's Safety Center
Spend some of your time on Facebook's Safety Center. All the official information right from Facebook for staying safe.
50. Facebook Page For Safety
At Facebook, nothing is more important than the safety of the people who use their service. On this page you can learn about their safety tools and resources.
51. Share And Educate
Try sharing this article, the more you help the, the more you educate the faster it create impacts. You can start with your community, school, public places, any other place you like in your own comfort.
Let Us know how you keep your Facebook account secure in comments below.
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