List hidden in Facebook settings reveals if you’ve been hacked – but if you see creepy Friend Request you must act now
A LIST hidden in your Facebook settings quickly reveals if you’ve been hacked.
In fact there are several clues that your account has been compromised by cyber-crooks – including an eerie Friend Request sign.
Facebook accounts are a top prize for criminals.
Not only can they gain info about you, but they can also use your account to scam your friends and family.
Now online crime experts at Keeper Security have revealed the clues that someone has broken into your Facebook account.
And one of the biggest giveaways is that mysterious devices are appearing in your account settings.
“If you still have access to your account and notice that unfamiliar devices are signed in, this means a hacker has logged in to your account on their devices,” Keeper Security’s Ashley D’Andrea explained.
“It will be noticeable to you if an unfamiliar device is signed in to your Facebook account because it won’t be a device you own or in your current location.
“For example, if you see an Android device in Seattle logged in to your account but you have an iPhone and live in Miami, it is clear someone has hacked your account.”
To check this menu, just go to Security and Login Settings > Accounts Center > Password and Security > Where You’re Logged In.
You can then log other devices out, and even end all log-in sessions.
Another key sign is if you’re noticing strange friend requests that you appear to have sent or accepted.
If you see this, it’s important to warn your friends and family that your account has been compromised.
This is also important if you see messages sent from your account that you didn’t personally write.
Other warning signs include:
- Changes to your account’s personal info
- Difficulties logging in
- Notifications about log-in attempts
- Unfamiliar pictures or videos on your feed
- Strange messages from other people that don’t fit with your previous conversation (a hacker may have messaged them and deleted their texts)
STRONG PASSWORD TIPS – DON'T IGNORE THEM!
Here's what you should be trying...
- Use a Mix: Combine uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Avoid Common Words: Steer clear of easily guessable words and phrases.
- Length Matters: Aim for passwords that are at least 12 characters long.
- Unique Passwords: Use different passwords for different accounts to enhance security.
- Passphrases: Consider using a series of random words or a memorable sentence.
- Memory Tricks: Use mnemonics or acronyms to remember complex passwords.
- Password Managers: Utilize password management tools to store and generate strong passwords.
Spotting just one of these is a worrying sign, and noticing multiple should really ring alarm bells.
YOU’RE HACKED – WHAT NOW?
You should initially focus on regaining access to your account.
If you can log in, change your password and set up multi-factor authentication.
This means anyone with your password will also need a temporary code to gain access.
PASSWORD RULES – DON'T BREAK THEM
Here are some important tricks to follow, as revealed by Keeper Security…
- Make sure to use a combination of upper and lowercase letters. It’s much easier to “crack” a password if it only uses lowercase letters.
- Never include personal data like your birthday, street address, and certainly not your name.
- Ensure that every password has at least 12 characters. This will significantly increase the time it would take a hacker to crack your login.
- Include symbols whenever you can. Not all services allow this, but if you can add question marks, exclamation marks, hash symbols, and slashes, your password will be far safer.
- Ensure that you’re using varied and non-sequential numbers. So, rather than having 1234 at the end of your password, mix them in and use a random order.
- Avoid, where possible, using words found in the dictionary in your password.
Log out of any active sessions and review all of your permissions.
If you can’t get in, you’ll need to report the hack to Facebook.
Once you’ve regained control of your account, warn your friends and family that you’ve been hacked.
That way you might be able to protect them from any scam messages they’ve been sent.
You should also make sure to change passwords on any other apps or websites that used the same log-in details as your Facebook account.
Make sure that you don’t re-use passwords, and ensure that they’re long and complicated.