Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

The American GeniusThe American Genius

Social Media

How to get alerts when other governments attack your Facebook account

Would you know if other governments hacked into your Facebook account along with thousands of other Americans? Here’s how to be notified if that happens.

facebook security mental health

facebook security

Protect your FB account

If you have a Facebook you’ve probably noticed that the privacy freak out trend happens about three times a year.

A friend posts one of those wordy privacy messages on their page, and it catches like wildfire. The next thing you know, your feed is lit up like Christmas with those wordy, superfluous posts that do basically nothing to protect your information, pictures or posts.

bar
Most of us are not strangers to the risk associated with our social media accounts. Generally speaking, if you’re hacked, you’re hacked. Unfortunately, people seeking access to your FB account likely have little concern regarding the last time you posted a privacy policy status.

FB adds government hacking protection

Facebook, since inception, has been at the forefront of social media protection. They include a whole section related to your safety options if you merely click on the small lock icon on the top right-hand side of your page. However, they’ve recently stepped up their game to include attacks from a more professional offender.

As of this fall, the platform informed facebookers that they would begin sending alerts to users if they suspect that an account has been hacked by a government entity. This measure has been taken because hacks of this nature tend to be more advanced. The warning will only be used if FB security professionals have strong evidence of a “government sponsored” attack.

The notification will look a bit like this (on a desktop):

facebook secure

Good on you, Facebook, but victims shouldn’t expect an explanation. The message from FB Chief Security Officer, Alex Stamos, specifically mentioned that in order to protect their procedures, particulars wouldn’t be released.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

How to set up your alerts

Obviously, the best way to avoid having any privacy issues is by keeping your settings up to date. A few selections that the Facebook Security Team suggests are the Login Alert and the Login Approval options. These two settings work together like layers, keeping expert hackers out.

So how the heck do you get set up to receive these notifications?

It’s pretty simple.

facebook settings

Go into your general security settings (see picture above), and select “Login Approvals.” Follow the steps to receive your code. This security option sends a code to you that must be entered when attempting to logon. You’ll be asked to use this number when logging on from any unknown browser.

Another option is the login alerts opportunity. This security measure will notify you if someone attempts to use your account from another device or browser. You can select if you would like to receive notifications, and how you’d like to get them.

#FBsecurity

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
Written By

Staff writer, Ashley Lombardo, earned her B.S. in journalism from The University of Florida and has used her skills to report on everything from the economy to productivity. She is well-known for her tremendously positive presence, and when she's not trying to save the world she indulges in red wine, friends, fitness, books, bubble baths, shoes, family and love.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

The
American Genius
news neatly in your inbox

Subscribe to our mailing list for news sent straight to your email inbox.

Advertisement

KEEP READING!

Business Marketing

When trying to present your work on social media, it feels frustrating to reposters win - but maybe there's a page to take from...

Tech News

Airchat, an app built around sharing voice notes to connect in the name of authenticity, but how is it different from the Clubhouses past?

Business Marketing

The Universal Music Group has pulled dozens of popular songs and artists from their Tiktok library - how will this affect your videos?

Opinion Editorials

I hear the term ‘Echo chamber’ tossed around when I mention that I keep my follows and friends in general alignment with my social...

Advertisement

The American Genius is a strong news voice in the entrepreneur and tech world, offering meaningful, concise insight into emerging technologies, the digital economy, best practices, and a shifting business culture. We refuse to publish fluff, and our readers rely on us for inspiring action. Copyright © 2005-2022, The American Genius, LLC.