You might have heard about the latest Facebook hack, that exposed as many as 50 million Facebook accounts.
So could your page have been hacked, maybe even "cloned," with someone setting up a fake page using your name? It's possible, but the good news is that there's a simple way to lower your risk.
Warning message goes viral
Cheryl Calvert and several of her friends have received a strange Facebook message in recent days.
"It seems a lot of my friends are posting a message that they have been hacked," she said.
The post says, "Hi, I actually got another friend request from you which I ignored, so you may want to check your account."
It implies your account was "cloned," with someone pretending to be you now looking for your friends. It tells you to share the message with all your Facebook contacts.
But it is just one of those viral warnings that millions of people end up sharing. While well intentioned, the message doesn't mean you are a hacking victim.
Danielle Kokchack, though is still concerned. "I've just heard that there has been more and more profile hacks," she said, "and I figure maybe we should increase our privacy settings or something."
She has a good point. Whether or not friends that you know are really getting hacked (they probably are not, despite that viral message) there's a very easy way to prevent that from happening to you.
It setting up what's called 2-factor authentication.
How to protect your account
Facebook now gives you the option of 2-factor logging on, where simply giving your password is no longer enough.
To complete the login, or change anything with your account, you will also need a special code Facebook will send to your phone. That will prevent anyone not holding your phone to get the code.
Methena Akwa, was once hacked, and suggests tightening your log on credentials.
"Somebody can get your password. If you got an easy password, you should make it harder. And then I change my password every other day."
A growing number of Facebook users, like Erin Matthews, have just had enough of the social network, period. "I'm just waiting for the right time to delete Facebook, cause it is terrible for your mental health," she said.
Of course many of us threaten to do that, but in the end stick with the social network that is such a big part of our lives.
To set up Facebook 2-factor authentication, click here.
As always, don't waste your money.
_______________
"Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").
"Like" John Matarese on Facebook
Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese)
For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com
Contact John at jmatarese@wcpo.com
