HackerUp on Facebook Security (2016)

Preface

Who This Book Is For

HackerUp on Facebook Security is the go-to source for Facebook users who care about keeping their stuff secure. Even if you grew up on Facebook, you probably don’t realize the risks. Do you know how much information the apps you use through Facebook get?

•Are you handing out your age, birthdate, timeline posts, and Friends lists without realizing it?

•Did you know that apps can keep your data even if you uninstall them?

•Did you realize that even your Friend’s apps might grab your data? Even if YOU don’t use those apps?

This ebook teaches you how to minimize these risks by downloading wisely and configuring advanced security settings. It even teaches you how to spot the scammers and avoid malicious attacks.

Whether you live on Facebook or just joined, this book is for you. Every Facebook user will find something important in this book.

Author Linda McCarthy has over 20 years’ experience testing computer security on large networks, developing security products, and working to protect the safety of teens and families on the Internet. McCarthy has written over a dozen books and guides on security and has worked with sponsors such as Microsoft and Facebook to make her security books available for free. Before turning her attention to educating the public about Internet safety, McCarthy was the Sr. Director of Internet Safety, Office of the CTO, for Symantec, and VP of Systems Engineering for Recourse Technologies.

HackerUp on Facebook Security

If there were any doubt about the incredible power of social networking, consider that Facebook has over 1.59 billion active users. That’s one and a half billion people who use Facebook every month. Worldwide, Facebook connects over a billion people every day—its global population is three times the population of Europe. Among its members, Facebook counts citizens from every single continent in the world. Every day sees over 4.5 billion Likes. Every minute—just 60 seconds—sees 100,000 Friend requests and just under 250,000 new photos uploaded. And in just 48 hours over New Year’s 2016, Facebook users uploaded nearly 2 billion photographs.

Social networks give people great power—they can Friend, Chat, share Status Updates, post Comments, share Links, tag Photos, post Videos, join Groups, create Pages, design Polls, and play together using applications. Social networks help people to promote causes, interests, and themselves. Facebook makes the world more open and connected by giving its users the tools to interact and share. And, to paraphrase the superhero, with great power comes great responsibility. Just as a city provides crosswalks and pedestrians look both ways before crossing the street, security on any social network is a responsibility shared between the social network and the people who use its platform.

This ebook focuses on Facebook security because so many people use Facebook. Facebook has also invested significant time and money in security configuration and tools, helping to set the bar higher for other social networks. Some of the security options you see on Facebook, like two-factor authentication, you will also find on several other social networks.

This guide highlights tools and techniques that will help to protect your Facebook account. Keep in mind though that online security applies to more than just Facebook. Much of the advice presented here applies to every site you visit online, not just Facebook or other social networking sites.