There are two types of Facebook accounts. One that has been hacked already. The other ones are unprotected Facebook accounts that have yet to be hacked.
It has never been more consequential to make some simple tweaks to make your Facebook account more secure. It’s especially important when you rely on social media for running your business.
We recently received an email from CyberGuy readers Andrea and Dante of Red Lodge, MT. Here’s what they had to say.
Hello,
We are about to start a small business that will rely heavily on social media. We just saw a story about a social media extortion scam on our local news. We just wanted to some tips on prevention, please. Thank you.
– Andrea and Dante, Red Lodge, MT
I know for sure that one of the ways that hackers get into Facebook profiles is through what’s known as the “Lily Collins” scam. Yes, it’s really named after the famous actress.
Please note Facebook updated some of the screens mentioned in video above. Please refer to text instructions below.
The reason is that once a hacker gets into someone’s Facebook account, they change their information and make the name on the account Lily Collins. Then they lock the true owners out, asking for a ransom in return for access.
There are plenty of ways to protect social media from hackers. Here are my foolproof steps to protect your Facebook and other social media accounts.
MORE: DON’T USE TIKTOK? THE CHINA-OWNED SOCIAL NETWORK MAY STILL HAVE YOUR DATA
Use two-factor authentication
The most important step to protecting your social media is by turning on two-factor authentication. If you’re using Facebook via a desktop app, here’s how to do that.
- Click your Facebook profile picture at the top right
- Click Settings and privacy and then click Settings
- On the left-hand side, in the Meta Accounts Center box, click See more in Account Center
- Click Password and security in the left-hand navigation
- Click Two-factor authentication and select your account
- Re-enter your password
- Choose the authentication option you want to use
MORE: IS FACEBOOK LISTENING TO YOU?
To do this from the Facebook mobile app:
- Click the circular icon with your photo and the 3 horizontal lines at the bottom right
- Scroll down and select Settings & privacy
- Tap Settings
- In the top Meta Accounts Center box, click See more in Account Center
- Towards the top, tap Password and security
- Click Two-factor authentication and select your account
- Re-enter your password
- Choose the authentication option you want to use
You can only activate this feature on a desktop computer, so make sure you can log in from one instead of just using your mobile phone.
Add a backup method to login
Once you’re logged into the Two-factor authentication page, you can add a backup method to help you log in. You have a choice of 3 different options:
- Receive a login code via an authentication app (you’ll need a third-party app like Google Authenticator for this one)
- Add a security key (you’ll need to purchase a third-party security key for this one)
- Receive a recovery code via text to login
On a desktop, click Edit next to the backup method you’d like to use, and follow on-screen instructions. On the mobile app, pick the method you want and follow the steps.
MORE: HOW TO CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD ON FACEBOOK
Set up alerts from unrecognized devices
You can also opt-in for text message and email updates if anyone logs into your Facebook account from a device you haven’t marked as a recognized device. Plus, you can have the notification pop up on your Facebook app. Here are the steps if you’re on a desktop:
- Click your Facebook profile picture at the top right
- Click Settings and privacy and then click Settings
- In the top Meta Accounts Center box, click See more in Account Center
- Towards the top, tap Password and security
- Click Login alerts and select your account
- Select how you want to receive alerts
And if you’re using the Facebook mobile app:
- Click the circular icon with your photo and the 3 horizontal lines at the bottom right
- Scroll down and select Settings & privacy
- Tap Settings
- In the top Meta Accounts Center box, click See more in Account Center
- Towards the top, tap Password and security
- Click Login alerts and select your account
- Select how you want to receive alerts
Have good antivirus software on all your devices
This story is another reminder to always have good antivirus software running on your devices, as it will protect you from accidentally clicking malicious links and it will remove any malware from your devices.
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Find my review of Best Antivirus Protection here.
Are you concerned about hackers getting into your Facebook account? Let us know by commenting below.
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Related:
- How to protect your Facebook account from hackers
- Beware of the fake ChatGPT plugin that’s stealing your Facebook login
5 comments
I also log out of Facebook every time I’m done using. This way if someone tries to log into my account when I’m logged off, they are stopped due to my two factor authentication. Plus I’ll get notification that someone tried to log in from an unknown device.
Here is an issue that I would appreciate your thoughts recommendations as Facebook has a bad standard. Someone opened an Facebook account using my name as I have it on Facebook and sent friend requests to folks I know. They did not steal a picture. When I pointed this out to Facebook they said it did not violate their community standards. This person was trading on my name and confusing them and requiring them and me to respond. Any thoughts how to stop?
Hi Colin, please refer to our article here on this topic: Cloned on Facebook? Here’s how to take back control
Is there anyway to contact someone at Facebook regarding my account being suspended. Recently I received a message from Facebook that an Instagram account linked to my Facebook account was posting material that did not meet FB’s rules. It said that they only way that I can protest them shutting down my Facebook account is to appeal their decision on the Instagram account. The problem is that it’s not my Instagram account so I can’t access it to protest anything. My FB account was protected by 2-factor so no one ever compromised it – just this rogue Instagram account that’s not even mine. I have business and non-profit FB pages that I own and operate but since they are linked to my personal FB page I can no longer access them either. This is creating a financial nightmare for me so TIA for any help that you can provide.
Hi Jon, please note many people find it challenging to get solutions from Facebook about restoring your account, however here are some steps you can take to try and resolve this issue: Visit the Facebook Help Center and look for the section on account suspensions. You can find information on how to appeal a suspension there. Use the appeal form to explain your situation. Be sure to mention that the Instagram account in question is not yours and that your Facebook account was protected by two-factor authentication. You can try reaching out to Facebook support via email. Here are some email addresses you might find useful: [email protected] for general support, [email protected] for appealing account suspensions, and [email protected] to report content violating Facebook’s guidelines.
When submitting your appeal, include any evidence that supports your claim, such as screenshots of the message you received and proof of your two-factor authentication setup. If you don’t receive a response, follow up with additional emails or try contacting Facebook through their Twitter support for more visibility.