Every 24 hours, Facebook has disclosed that it faces approximately 600,000 logins from impostors trying to access users’ messages, photos, and other personal information on the social networking site.
This information marks the first instance in which Facebook has disclosed the frequent onslaught of hackers it endures daily, according to the Telegraph.
This statistic was shared in a blog post by Facebook that also announced forthcoming security measures aimed at preventing such breaches.
Experts in security conveyed to The Times that this number raises significant concern and advised users to exercise increased caution when choosing passwords and clicking on offers that appear to come from Facebook acquaintances.
“If a Facebook login is compromised, it indicates that a hacker has gained control of that account,” noted Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant at the security firm Sophos.
According to him, a hacker gaining control of a user’s Facebook account allows them to post images, send messages, and access the individual’s private information.
The initial new security measure targets assisting Facebook users locked out of their accounts by hackers.
The “Trusted Friends” tool will permit users to identify three to five trusted friends who will receive login codes if someone is barred from accessing their account due to a hacker altering the password.
The concept is that if an individual needs to log into Facebook but can’t get access to their e-mail, Facebook will distribute login codes to those chosen friends.
Another new security feature introduces the ability to set unique passwords for apps, allowing users not to rely on the same credentials for various third-party services accessed via Facebook.
“It’s definitely wise not to use your Facebook password elsewhere – so it’s encouraging to know that Facebook will provide this new privacy feature,” Cluley mentioned in a blog post.
