Your Facebook account is great for keeping in touch with friends, but it can also attract the attention of Internet ‘enemies’: viruses and hackers. You probably know one person whose Facebook account was infiltrated, and used to share explicit content or wreak havoc on computer systems. How do you protect yourself, and everyone on your friends list? Read on for useful tips, just one o fthe many recipes for life you will find on o5.com.
Types of Facebook attacks and viruses
One of the most recent attacks on Facebook used a ‘dummy’ method. Basically, a link led you to a page that strongly resembled Facebook’s web design. So, users would unwittingly log in, providing their user ID and passwords to the other website. Many of them had no idea that they had been duped, because after giving their information, they would be redirected to Facebook.
Another attack disguised itself as an official Facebook email, asking users to reset their passwords. However, after the link was clicked on, the virus would then infect the computer.
Other viruses would use your friends list, sending them a personal message from you asking them to click on a link, which of course would lead them right to an infected page.
How to protect your password
From these examples, you’ll see how most viruses and hackers work. They get your password, or lead you—through various deceptions—to click on a link.
So your best defense is to choose a strong Internet password and guard the secret very, very closely. Don’t give it to anyone else! You should also change your password periodically, especially if friends report getting strange messages, or anything else that is out of the ordinary. Facebook will also issue warnings of an attack. Even if your account hasn’t been affected, reset your password as a precaution.
Then, double check the URL before logging in. Be sure that you are actually on a Facebook page.
Beware of malicious links
Be very careful about clicking on links, too. Even if your friend shares them, via a status message or a Facebook message, don’t bother checking it out unless it’s accompanied by a message. And never, ever download a file. Use Facebook to network, not to exchange data.
After you use your Facebook account, log off. This is doubly important if you are using a public computer. In fact, Facebook administrators recommend deleting the cookies and clearing the cache, which enables other users to trace your user ID and account.
Hackers can also get your Facebook data through malwares, which can enter your computer system from other websites that you may have visited. Invest in a good virus protection software.
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