14 DAY TRIAL // Facebook is facing more and more security issues dealing with spam, compromised accounts and other types of attacks. Considering its size it's no surprise that it became a prime target but for the most part the site has managed to stay out of trouble, which can't be said about the other hot social network at the moment, Twitter. And now, to further aid those who may have been the victims of an attack, the site offers better information and a simpler way of regaining control over their accounts.
“We've spent the last few months improving the way to guide people through the process of regaining access to their account after it's been compromised and used to send spam. Currently, we send emails explaining what happened and provide links to remedy the situation. Now we're moving towards a new model that also involves clear and simple steps taken within Facebook itself. In doing so, we can ensure that the person logging in is the true owner of the account, thereby preventing hackers from using it to send spam in the future,” Jake Brill, project manager for the site integrity team, wrote on the Facebook blog.
Having an account hijacked isn't the most pleasant experience and while most of us believe that we're under no danger the reality is that many aren't taking all the necessary steps in protecting their data. But while there are steps that can be taken to minimize the likelihood of this happening they hardly matter after the fact, except as a reminder for the future.
So Facebook has improved the way it manages those who have had their account credentials stolen and their accounts used for spam. In these cases the social network blocks the account and would usually notify the users by email. Now, apart from the emails, the users will be greeted by a new page detailing what has happened and what steps they need to take to recover their account. After a few security questions to verify their identity they will also be taken to another page Facebook has set up with tips and information on how to better protect their data.
While the number of attacks is unlikely to go down, with more and more users flocking to the social network, it's good to see that Facebook is taking more steps to help its users.