5 Tips to Secure Social Media After Data Breach"

Did Facebook get you worried? The social media company’s recent data breach, which left 50 million user profiles exposed, has pushed more people to tighten up their online security.

Making a few quick changes to your social media profiles could safeguard your personal data from cybercriminals, untrustworthy third parties, and even potential employers.

Here are five ways to improve social media security.

1. Change your password frequently

When was the last time you changed your Facebook password? Be honest. If it was a while ago, you’re not alone.

Forty-seven percent of people still use the same password from five years ago, while 21 percent haven’t changed their password for 10 years. Now is as good a time as any to change your login credentials and boost social media security.

Here’s the secret to a good password: Combine both letters and numbers — this makes it more difficult for other people to work out your secret phrase.

2.Use multi-factor authentication

Imagine if your password needed a password. That’s Facebook’s multi-factor authentication in a nutshell. It’s a cybersecurity feature that “double locks” your profile and prevents your personal data from ending up in the wrong hands.

“If you set up two-factor authentication, you’ll be asked to enter a special security code or confirm your login attempt each time someone tries accessing Facebook from a computer or mobile device we don’t recognize,” says the social media giant.

3.Limit your share settings

You’ve just taken the perfect selfie. But do you really want the whole world to see it? Limiting your share settings on Facebook means you only share information — photos, status updates, likes, etc. — with those you trust, not potential employers or people you don’t know.

Since its recent data leak, Facebook plans to make privacy settings less difficult to use. Until that happens, head over to the “privacy” tab on your settings page and adjust your options accordingly.

4. Be cautious of careless clicking

You probably spend a lot of time on Facebook. A lot of people do. In fact, the average person kills 50 minutes on the platform every single day. Whether you are checking your friends’ status updates or uploading photos, be careful where you click. You could accidentally install a third-party app, for example, or click on a link that takes you to a malicious site.

“Cybercriminals are increasingly using social media platforms like Facebook to distribute malware via phishing campaigns,” says Hospitality Technology. “Recently, attackers have used Facebook to distribute malicious browser extensions and even distribute ransomware.”

5. Log out of your account

This is one of the best tips to protect yourself online. Facebook remembers your login details so you don’t have to enter your username and password each time you want to use the platform. That’s all very well and good, but not logging out of your profile properly could result in trouble.

If you use a public computer or take your laptop to work, another person could access your profile when you’re not around. If you want to improve online safety, make sure you actually log out of your account.

Social Media Security

Follow these five tips to crank up your social media security and better your browsing habits. Since Facebook’s data breach, more people have updated their privacy settings and reviewed the personal information they share with others.

Don’t forget about other social networks, though. Improving security across all your profiles is imperative to staying safe online.