We’ve all heard the horror stories: a friend’s Facebook account gets hacked, scammers take over, and suddenly, their profile, pages, and groups are filled with suspicious posts and fraudulent links. Worse yet, these hackers target your friend’s connections, leading to a domino effect of scams spreading through your network. Unfortunately, once an account is compromised, it can be incredibly difficult—if not impossible—to regain control. That’s why it’s crucial to take proactive steps to secure your Facebook account before anything happens. Here’s how you can lock down your account and keep hackers at bay.

Step 1: Perform a Privacy Checkup

Facebook provides a built-in Privacy Checkup tool that walks you through key security settings. This tool is available on both desktop and mobile devices, and it helps ensure your account is as secure as possible.

On Desktop:

1. Log into Facebook and click on your profile picture in the upper right corner.
2. Select “Settings & Privacy” and then click on “Privacy Checkup.”
3. Follow the prompts to review your settings in categories like “Who can see what you share,” “How to keep your account secure,” and more. Adjust any settings to make sure only trusted friends have access to your content.

On Mobile:

1. Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner (iOS) or top right corner (Android).
2. Scroll down to “Settings & Privacy” and select “Privacy Checkup.”
3. Go through each step, reviewing and tightening up your privacy settings.

Step 2: Turn On Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification—like a text message code—when you log in.

On Desktop:

1. Go to “Settings & Privacy” and select “Settings.”
2. Click “Security and Login” on the left-hand menu.
3. Scroll down to “Use two-factor authentication” and click “Edit.”
4. Choose your preferred authentication method (text message, authentication app, etc.) and follow the prompts to enable it.

On Mobile:

1. Access the menu by tapping the three horizontal lines.
2. Navigate to “Settings & Privacy” > “Settings” > “Password and Security.”
3. Tap on “Use two-factor authentication” and select your desired method.
4. Follow the instructions to turn it on.

Important: Never share your 2FA codes with anyone. If someone asks for it, it’s likely a scam.

Step 3: Use a Strong, Unique Password

Your Facebook password should be strong and unique—ideally, it shouldn’t be used for any other accounts.

• Choose a password that is at least 20 characters long and includes a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays, names, or common phrases.
• Consider using a password manager to generate and store strong passwords for all your accounts.

Step 4: Turn On Login Notifications

Login notifications alert you when someone attempts to access your account from an unrecognized device or browser.

On Desktop:

1. Go to “Settings & Privacy” > “Settings” > “Security and Login.”
2. Scroll to “Setting up extra security” and click “Edit” next to “Get alerts about unrecognized logins.”
3. Choose how you want to receive alerts (email, SMS, or Facebook notifications) and save your changes.

On Mobile:

1. Access “Settings & Privacy” > “Settings” > “Password and Security.”
2. Under “Setting up extra security,” tap “Get alerts about unrecognized logins.”
3. Enable the alerts and choose your preferred notification method.

Step 5: What to Do if a Friend’s Account is Hacked

If a friend’s account is hacked and they lose access, there’s not much they can do to regain control, as Facebook’s recovery options are limited. However, you can help by saving their photos before the hackers wipe the account.

Using Firefox and the Download All Images Extension:

1. Install the “Download All Images” extension from the Firefox Add-ons store.
2. Visit your friend’s Facebook profile and go to the Photos section.
3. Right-click on the page and select “Download All Images.”
4. Choose a location on your computer to save the images.

Note: The extension may not grab every image, especially those in private albums or behind certain privacy settings. You’ll need to manually sort through the downloaded images to find what’s missing. Also, this extension does not download videos—you’ll need another tool, such as a video downloader extension, to save those files.

The unfortunate reality is that once your Facebook account is hacked, there’s no guaranteed way to get it back. Facebook’s recovery options are limited, and the process can be frustrating and time-consuming. That’s why prevention is key. By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of losing your account—and if Facebook doesn’t improve its recovery mechanisms soon, they may see a continued decline in users who are fed up with starting over.

If you have any questions or need help securing your online presence, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at DarkHorse IT. We’re here to help you stay safe online!