How to Safely use Facebook

Facebook is becoming more popular everyday. With millions of people to be targeted, Facebook is definitely a battleground for security and privacy. This website has become a worldwide hit and consequently has become a target for those intent on spamming and stealing private information. In this article, we will cover many techniques to allow you to safely use Facebook.

Secure your computer, web browser, Internet connection

Follow our guides to secure your Windows PC or secure your Macintosh by installing the right software, firewall, antivirus software, etc. Secure your mobile devices: iPhone, Android smartphone or tablet, iPad. Configure the settings and add plug-ins to you web browser so that it is more secure. Consult our tutorials for: Internet Explorer 9, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Secure your Internet Connection: Wireless Network, Public Wi-Fi.

It is important that you follow the tips above to ensure your computer is secure. There have been Facebook Spam Attacks caused when malware infects a computer and gives control of the user’s Facebook account to a spammer. The spammer then posts messages on Facebook offering everything from Free items to pictures of celebrities, all appearing to be posted by the infected user. If one of your friends clicks on the offer, they instantly get infected, repeating the cycle of malware propagation.

Friending only Real Friends

It is important that we only share information with true friends and not distant acquaintances. Many people try to friend as many people as possible, perhaps even people they barely know. We believe it is important that people eliminate friends they barely know from their friend list. An alternative would be to create Groups of close friends and only blast more personal messages out to this group. This technique does require more involvement whenever you post.

Think before Clicking on Links

There have been several viruses that have hit Facebook users, many of which have caused links to malware, exposing personal information, selling products, or inappropriate content to be posted on Facebook. It is important that you exercise care before clicking on any links. Over 50,000 people might click on a new spam message within the first hour of it being launched.

Facebook has partnered with several security companies to offer 6 months of free anti-virus software to help protect users from malicious content, spam, and bad web links.

Shortened links that do not fully disclose the destination site should be expanded before being clicked. You can expand short links with a browser plugin or visit a site like longurl.org. Virustotal.com checks shortened url’s for malware. Consult our How to Secure Your Internet Browser article for details. Internet Explorer 9 – Mozilla Firefox – Google Chrome

Secure Facebook Browsing

As with the rest of the web, browsing a website using a secure connection is always preferable. You can set Facebook to automatically use secure HTTPS browsing by doing the following:

1. Select the Triangle in the upper right corner
2. Select Account Settings
3. Click Security
4. Click Edit next to Secure Browsing
5. Check Browse Facebook on a secure connection (https) when possible
6. Click Save Changes

Facebook Applications

Facebook applications have access to all your Facebook data. We suggest users eliminate applications that are unnecessary or seldom used. Many applications are granted access to posting on your wall or pulling information from other websites. There are inherent security risks with all this functionality.

1. Select the Triangle in the upper right corner
2. Select Account Settings
3. Select Apps from the left column
4. Click the x next to any App you do not recognize or need

Beware of:

• IQ tests
• Polls
• Voting for a celebrity polls

There have been Facebook applications, in these areas that have lead to unwanted cell phones charges, privacy breeches, or other malware.

Privacy Settings

If you want to maintain your privacy, then don’t use Facebook. If you want to control your private data within Facebook, it is important that you configure privacy settings correctly. Facebook updates its privacy settings regularly, so it is important to check your current settings frequently. Keep in mind that you are just preventing others from seeing your information. Advertisers and Facebook still have access to your private profile.

1. Select the Triangle in the upper right corner
2. Select Privacy Settings
3. Set your Default Privacy to Friends

The main sharing circles are:

• Friends
• Custom
• Public

Obviously you want to minimize the Publicly shared information as much as possible. You  may want to clamp down with Custom to reduce the expansion of your private information.

Prevent Auto-Recognition of You in Pictures

Facebook has automatic facial recognition technology that suggests your friends to automatically tag you in pictures. If you would like to disable this privacy invading option do the following:

1. Select the Triangle in the upper right corner
2. Select Privacy Settings
3. Select Edit Settings next to How Tag Works
4. Click on Tag Suggestion
5. Select Disabled

Prevent Friends From Checking You Into Places

Facebook allows friends to check you into a Place. If you would like to disable this option do the following:

1. Select the Triangle in the upper right corner
2. Select Privacy Settings
3. Select Edit Settings next to How Tag Works
4. Click on Friends can check you into places
   
5. Select Disabled

Tag Review

Facebook allows friends to tag you in photos. If you would like to change this option so you are asked before a tag appears, do the following:

1. Select the Triangle in the upper right corner
2. Select Privacy Settings
3. Select Edit Settings next to How Tag Works
4. Click on Tag Review
   
5. Select Enabled

Limit Facebook Chat Availability

If you would like to limit who can chat with you on Facebook Chat, do the following:

1. Click the Settings Gear Icon at the bottom of the chat column
2. Select Limit Availability…
3. Select Only make me available to:
4. Check the appropriate boxes
5. Click Okay

Limiting Information Your Friend’s Apps Can Access

Your friends may be sharing some of your personal information with out even knowing it. This happens when they use 3rd-Party apps. If you would like to limit what your friend’s apps can access do the following:

1. Select the Triangle in the upper right corner
2. Select Privacy Settings
3. Select Edit Settings next to Apps and Websites
   
4. Click on Edit Settings next to How people bring your info to apps they use
   
5. Uncheck all items you wish to be private
6. Click Save Changes

ReclaimPrivacy.org checks your Facebook Privacy settings and shows you how to fix possible privacy setting errors.

Insure that you have set Facebook to not allow search engines to access your profile. Be sure the box for public search results isn’t checked.

1. Select the Triangle in the upper right corner
2. Select Privacy Settings
3. Select Edit Settings next to Apps and Websites
   
4. Click on Edit Settings next to Public Search
   
5. Uncheck Enable Public Search

Sharing Sensitive Information

The following information is sensitive and may not be desired to be shared with others. Thieves can use this information as well those trying to piece together your identity or those attempting to hack your passwords.

• Who your friends are
• Vacations or times away from home
• Real birthday, at least no year
• Mother’s maiden name
• Pets names
• Children’s names
• Address
• Phone numbers
• Schools attended
• Religious views
• Political views

To edit your profile’s information do the following:

1. Click on your Name in the Upper Left Corner
2. Click Edit Profile in the Upper Right Corner
3. For Each Field within each Category Select the Appropriate Sharing Level
4. Remove Information Deemed Too Sensitive

We suggest you configure who is able to see your Friends and Family information especially the Friends list that might be set to a overly wide ranging Public by default.

Facebook Passwords and Access

It is important to follow our standard password suggestions. Consult our article on How to create, store, and use secure passwords.

In addition to a secure password, Facebook supports two factor authentication, or Login Approvals which combines a password with authentication on a mobile phone. You will get a SMS text message on your cell phone whenever someone logs into your account from a different computer. We suggests all users enable this feature.

1. Select the Triangle in the upper right corner
2. Select Account Settings
3. Select Security from Left Column
4. Select Login Approvals
5. Check Require me to enter a security code each time an unrecognized computer or device tries to access my account

Audit Facebook Logins

Verify that the last logins were from your own devices and not from being hacked.

1. Select the Triangle in the upper right corner
2. Select Account Settings
3. Select Security from Left Column
4. Select Recognized Devices
5. Click Remove on any that you are not familiar with

Verify that no recent sessions have come from mysterious places.

1. Select the Triangle in the upper right corner
2. Select Account Settings
3. Select Security from Left Column
4. Select Active Sessions
   
5. Click End Activity on any that you are not familiar with

Facebook Website Tracking

Facebook has been tracking websites visited outside of its own. If you would like to prevent this from occurring, install the browser plugin disconnect.me.

Facebook Photo Matching

Facebook has facial recognition technology that can automatically label who is in a given picture. We suggest that you disable this feature or at least prevent it from recognizing your kids within a photo.

Facebook related Email Spam or Phising

E-mail and instant messages have been used to propagate spam or phishing on Facebook. To receive a message about a new picture, and the link takes you to a Facebook or Twitter login page. The page is faked in an effort to steal your login credentials.

Like – Jacking

A Facebook scam that has grown in popularity is one involving must-see videos, free airline tickets or promo’s on a friends wall or even your wall. If you click on one of these links, you will give permission to post this link on your friends’ walls. Some of these links might cause spam or ask you to reveal personal information.

We have covered many areas in which you can increase the security and privacy of your Facebook usage. We suggest you implement as many of the suggestions as quickly as possible to maximize your safety on Facebook.

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