Improve Facebook security
Here’s how to fend off imposters on Facebook
Surfing the social networking site unassisted can be a perilous exercise. All you need is a software equivalent of a club bouncer.
Close to 53 million users from India have their personal data, photos and contact information associated with their profile pages on Facebook. While online privacy is a huge issue of concern for many internet users, and Facebook, the world’s most popular social network, is the main platform over which many agonize (agonise) about the safety of their personal data.
Its not rare for users to come face-to-face with spam activity that goes from their Facebook accounts to their friends or see their Facebook profile endorsing a brand they have never interacted with on the social networking site. How does this happen? Blame it on the third-party social apps (game apps, or thought sharing apps, location-based apps, etc) linked to your Facebook account that can essentially track your life on the internet. Industry data suggests one in five apps even collect your friends’ data.
But securing your information on Facebook isn't as difficult as you might think.
Securing data from third-party apps
Do you recall how many times you have granted permission to an app to access your personal information on Facebook? Also, do you know how to access permissions’ page on your Facebook to revoke unwanted permissions? If your answer to those questions is ‘no’, then you should take advantage of a new service offered by MyPermissions.org.
MyPermissions.org allows to quickly check all your permissions across the most popular social sites (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, etc). You do not need to submit any personal information or log-in details to MyPermissions, simply click on the appropriate icon and you will be taken to that site’s permissions page where you can then review a list of permissions already granted and remove any apps or websites you don’t recognize(recognise) or you no longer require. Users must treat all permissions to third-party apps as risky since the personal information thus provided can be utilised(utilized) for identity theft as well as a plethora of other roguery.
Other things to keep in mind
-Yashraj Talan
*Change your password at periods-
Using a strong password every time and changing it with a better or equivalent one is the simplest and the most important advice one would give to you.
*Do not paste any code in address bar-
Once I saw a video post on my Facebook wall that asked me to copy-paste a code that was written on that video, and after I did it, my Facebook account just couldn't be opened. I tried the "Forgot your Password?" link, changed my password, and then I realised that I had accidentally inserted a malicious code into my Facebook account, that lead to my account being compromised. Be careful, don't just visit any link shared by any XYZ friend, unless you either know that its a trusted link or you have a good antivirus solution with you.
*Activate Secure Browsing-
On activation, you will be able to browse Facebook on a secure(https) connection. To activate this, go to Security Settings and click on "Secure Browsing" and tick the little box beside "Browse Facebook on a secure connection(https) when possible". You can go there manually by clicking on the little arrow pointing downwards(present at the top-right corner of any Facebook page), click on "Account Settings" and then choose "Settings" from the left hand pane.
*Enable "Login Notifications"-
This is a pretty handy way to find out when a hacker logs in to your account through a device other than the one you use(ie., the one you use to log in to Facebook). When someone logs in, you receive an email to your email address notifying you that someone logged in to your account and if you have "Facebook Texts" enabled, you will also receive a message notifying you of the same, after which you can take action by clicking on the link in the email. To activate it, go to Security Settings, click on "Login Notifications" and then tick the boxes before "Email" and "Text message/Push notification".
So, with these precautions taken, you can ensure your Facebook experience will be "safe and sound".
So, with these precautions taken, you can ensure your Facebook experience will be "safe and sound".
:)
visit my Apna Circle profile now! yashraj talan
This post was written by Yashraj Talan
Yashraj Talan is a teen who loves to write and express himself! Loves technology, philosophy, psychology, music and the beauty of life.
