Could your Facebook login credentials be up for sale online? Researchers have found that many people's account details are being sold online for as little as $2.70 each, in the latest shock revelation over Facebook's lax security. This will be extremely damaging for the social media company, which has been hit by countless security breaches in the past 6 months.
More about the leak
It's been discovered that Facebook account logins are up for sale on the 'dark web' for a minimal fee, less than the price of a takeaway coffee. This has been found to be occurring every single day, a mere matter of days after another Facebook beach, in which nearly 50 million customer accounts were hacked.
The research in which user accounts were discovered as being on sale was conducted by a company called 'Money Guru'. According to the firm, "There are few better ways to gain insight into someone's life than their social media accounts (…) these details are frequently stolen to sell to companies with little scruples about targeted advertising."
They continued by stating, "It's also a fast track to identity theft as they can take control of your accounts, lock you out and cause serious reputational damage in a short space of time." This news comes
Though it may not seem like the end of the world to have your Facebook account details compromised, there are a number of reasons that you should be concerned about your details potentially being leaked online, for example:
- You could be using the same credentials elsewhere, which means that numerous accounts are at risk;
- Hackers could discover your routine and know when to target your property at its most vulnerable;
- Your account could be held to ransom, with threats to post embarassing content unless money is paid.
These are just some limited examples of what could be done with a basic social media account. Though it may seem like somethinig completely innocuous at first, these examples just serve to highlight how any account breach, even those on social media, can be potentially dangerous to you and your personal security.
Protecting your accounts
This report found that the best way to protect yourself was by using two-step verification methods. This adds an additional layer of security to your applications and website logins, utilising a secondary means of identification; usually, this is a code sent to your mobile phone.
When you've set up two-step authentication for an account, you'll be sent an authentication code. Even if your account has been exposed in a security leak such as this one, hackers won't be able to access your profile unless they have physical access to your mobile phone, providing a far more difficult to crack means of protection.
Is it time to delete Facebook?
Research from earlier this year found that around 1 in 20 Brits had deleted their account after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which was one of the first major breaches to hit Facebook this year. Things have only gotten worse since then, with numerous big-profile security problems, so this number has likely gotten worse for the social media giant.
Whether you decide to delete your profile or not is up to you, though it could be the beginning of the end for the Facebook platform, especially as other platforms like Instagram are growing (although this is also owned by Facebook). If you have any concerns about your online security and how to better-protect yourself, then you can always speak to WiseGuys on 0808 123 2820. We're happy to help you improve your online security habits.
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