Did you know it's estimated about 300,000 Facebook accounts are hacked on cloned daily? A day doesn't by without someone messaging me on Facebook looking for help for their hacked or cloned Facebook account. In today’s digital age, protecting your Facebook account from cloning and hacking is more crucial than ever. Criminals target Facebook accounts because many of you fail to put the right protections in place to prevent cloaning or hacking. You might think your Facebook account doesn't contain important data, but criminals can steal data such as your personal details, credit card information and cause damage to your digtal marketing brand. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential steps to secure your account, recognize potential threats, and take proactive measures to keep your personal information safe. Here's what you need to know.
You should know, Facebook is the most targeted social media platform by cybercriminals because it potentially gives them access to 3 billion user accounts they can use to launch socially engineered phishing attacks to scam people out of personal information and money Criminals will try to either steal your account from underneath your nose or clone your account to trick your followers into falling for scams. Here are some signs that your Facebook account may have been hacked or cloned.
Your name, birthday, email, or password changes suddenly
Friend requests are sent to people you don't know
Messages you didn't write are sent from your account
Posts you didn't create appear on your timeline
You can no longer access your Facebook account
Your profile picture has changed
You notice changes with your Facebook business accounts
If your Faceook account has been cloned, there's not much to worry about. With Facebook account cloning, it just means criminals have created a duplicate of your Facebook account. It doesn't mean you have been hacked, but it can be a blow to your digital reputation.
If your Facebook has been hacked, you will no longer have access to your account. Even if you try tvo perform the account recovery, you will not be able to log in.
It can be devestating if you have your Facebook account cloned or hacked, so it's important to take steps to keep it out of the hands of crooks. Take the following steps:
Stop sharing your Facebook account with strangers. Did you know people can find your Facebook account with using Google? So can criminals. Make sure you hide your Facebook account by doing the following:
In the Privacy section, find the option Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile? and disable it.
2. Start using strong passwords and stop using passwords. Let's face it, you suck at creating passwords. We all do. Your best bet is to move away from using passwords and use passphrases. A passphrase is a password created with two unrelated words along with special characters and and numbers. Examples include: 'ButteryTurtle1045!" or 'RockTypist!325' Once you start using passphrases, your Facebookaccounts will stay complete safe.
3. Turn on two factor authentication and don't let it turn on you. Two Factor or Two Step Authentication is the process of setting up your Facebook account to need two stages to long in. Once enabled. you’ll need to enter a code sent to your phone or generated by an authentication app whenever you log in from a new device or browser. This adds an extra layer of security to your account. Here's how to turn it on.
On Mobile Devices:
Open the Facebook app and log in to your account.
Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right (iOS) or top right (Android).
Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then select Settings.
Tap Security and Login.
Under the Two-Factor Authentication section, tap Use two-factor authentication.
Choose your preferred security method. It's recommended to use SMS or text messaging.
On Windows or Macintosh Computers:
Log in to Facebook and click the down arrow in the top right corner.
Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings.
Click Security and Login on the left-hand side.
Scroll down to the Two-Factor Authentication section and click Use two-factor authentication.
Choose your preferred security method and follow the prompts to set it up.
4. You don't need to let strangers see who are and who you're friends with. One thing that will make your Facebook account attractive to criminals is when they can see who you're friends with. This makes it easier for them to simply clone your account allowing them to target who you're connected with. Use these tips to hide your friends list:
Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy.
Change the audience for your posts to Only me or Friends.
Limit who can send you friend requests and who can look you up using your email or phone number.
5. Consider getting a verified account. Facebook offers verified accounts that promise to keep your account safe from criminals. These accounts, known by their blue checkmark next to your profile picture are secured from criminals by making you provide a government id to verify you own the account. They require verification whenever you change your account such as changing a profile picture. or your name. Plus you get access to Facebook support in the event something happens to your account.
Hopefully, this will give you tips to help you keep your Facebook account safe from 'criminals If you enjoyed this post, let me know in the comments below. Stay tuned to my blog for more insightful articles and guides to help you strengthen your security posture and your knowledge about technology. If you have any questions, please reach out via email or on social media. I'm always available.
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