Over the weekend, our Facebook timelines were bombarded with posts of Facebook friends saying that they, too, found fake clone accounts bearing their names on the platform. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and even Facebook itself launched their respective investigation about the issue, which some are saying is connected to people’s contention to the Anti-Terrorism Bill.
The immediate thing to do when one finds a fake account with their names is to report it to Facebook. This can be done by going to the Facebook page of the particular account, then click on the three dots on the right side below the name. After this, tap on the “Find Support or Report Profile,” then choose “Fake account.” Tap on “Report profile,” click on the box to check, then choose “Report.” After all these steps, Facebook will now review the report.
You’ve already reported the fake account, now, what? The best thing to do is to secure your Facebook account to avoid any untoward hacking incidents. Here are easy ways on how to do this.
Change your current password and use a strong one.
It’s a common rule in the rulebook of being a responsible internet user to utilize a strong password, which authorities and cybersecurity experts say is a combination of small and capital letters, symbols, and numbers. Amid the emergence of fake accounts, it’s important to be vigilant and one way to practice this is through changing your current password.
Review your logins.
This is something you should do regularly in order to keep track of the devices your Facebook account is and was signed in. This can be done by going to Facebook settings, then on the Security and Login option, you’ll see the list of devices, as well as the location and time of where your account is logged in.
In case there’s a suspicious device listed that you don’t own, better change your password immediately then log out your Facebook account across all devices.
Activate two-factor authentication.
This goes not just for your Facebook account but across all your accounts on various social media platforms. Activating two-factor authentication will prohibit unauthorized access to your account as this will first require a code which can either be sent through your personal email or through your mobile number.
Be mindful of what you share online.
Remember not to post anywhere on the web personal and sensitive information about you which the hackers or those who create fake accounts with your name can use at their advantage.
Regularly update your apps.
Applications and various software often rollout updates to address bugs and issues which sometimes include those related to security and privacy. Always have your apps on their latest version so you won’t miss any important update.
Vigilance is an important part of being a responsible internet user. See to it that what you’re doing online doesn’t compromise both your internet security and data privacy. What other tips do you have in mind? Share it with us through the comment section below!
Karina is not your ordinary supermom. She juggles her time bonding with her three amazing kids while being in the loop on the latest happenings in the tech and lifestyle scene. Follow me on Instagram (@digitalfilipina) regularly visit www.digitalfilipina.com for daily dose of updates not just for moms but for everyone!
