your account can't be hacked!

[tweets 0]

A lot of people have posted threads claiming that their account has been hacked. This is a result of lack of understanding internet security and technical knowledge, which nobody can be blamed for in the first place.

However, there are a few things that each user should know these days and I am shocked how careless people are with their private data. We must see both sides of the story here, but also explain what hacking really means and if that's an issue for us on PS. Let's start with the basics:

Hacking means getting remote access to a local computer. Some companies do this to test their security systems, some misuse this to cause damage on other computers, but hacking itself doesn't have to be something evil in the first place.

On Windows, viruses and trojans are used to get illegal access to someone's computer, on Macs and Linux unpatched security holes. We all know how easy it is to get a virus, it's most likely by opening attachments of malicious emails, that contain a virus/trojan, by clicking on a foreign link or by being asked to give away login data (online banking for example). Nowadays, where social media is very popular, download links are spread via their messaging systems, also via IM. So if someone clicks on a link and downloads some suspicious software that allows others to remotely access the user's computer without their knowledge, that's where you can say someone's got hacked after their hard drive got cleaned up. If you scan your computer for viruses, not click on any unknown links, you're quite safe. Besides, this has nothing really to do with Facebook or PS, this is something users should be aware of in general.

The other part of the story is a bit more painful. Many users simply cause the damage themselves. One of the biggest mistakes one can ever make is giving away passwords to others. No matter how nice and friendly the friends might be, you must not give away any login data! The reason is simple, people change and you also can never be sure if they won't pass the data over to someone else who also claims to be friendly, but would have bad intentions. Many of you are very young here, but please be aware of the fact that people change! Your friend can be an enemy in the future and might harm you when you least expect it. So remember, NEVER give away your logins and passwords to anyone! NEVER, EVER! Don't whine afterwards that someone hacked your fb, it's you who gave access to log on to your account. Therefore, it is NOT hacking, all right?

Another mistake is that many people don't pay too much attention to their privacy settings. Many people won't hide their e-mail address in their profile, and use simple passwords that are easy to guess, mostly not by strangers, rather people who one knows.

Also, you can't get hacked just from adding friends, or pets from the cafe visiting you, unless you don't click on any link they send you or download some software, which leads us to the beginning of the post again.

you should keep your computer password a secret too (except to the houshold, maybe)
and don't save your passwords!
be carefull! now that they know how to do it, they'll keep doing it!

[Lucky Strike 0]

TOF's thread? i remember reading it long time ago... that's actually usefull for someone thay don't know..

[tweets 0]

yes.. i just want to let the others know...

[Lucky Strike 0]

you did well

[kasijab 0]

There is a post in the help and advise section explaining about facebook security settings. The majority of people know about not clicking on links esp those asking for personal information. But not many know how to hide your email address, which as far as I am concerned is the most improtant one. Without that, nobody can access your facebook. Its is so simple to set it so only you can see it in your profile.

[maltese 0]

Yes.... privacy was really important.... hide it or else....