Facebook Security Settings (Facebook Security and Login Settings 2026)

The single most important Facebook security setting is two-factor authentication (2FA) — it blocks over 99.9% of automated account-takeover attacks. Turn it on under Settings & privacy → Settings → Password and security → Two-factor authentication, and choose an authenticator app rather than SMS. Below we cover the rest: login alerts, active sessions, recovery codes and how to spot phishing.

Facebook Security Settings

Every day, millions of users log into the Facebook social media platform. As the platform becomes highly popular, with more people becoming dependent on the platform, there is an increased need to safeguard every single account set up on the app.

Occasionally, you will find your Facebook friends share news like, "Please, friends, add me back through this account; my other account has been hacked."

At times, they contact you, narrating unfortunate stories about their account being stolen and difficulties in accessing their account.

It is a difficult experience not being able to access an account that you have invested years to establish and can't connect with the friends and audience you had built throughout the years as a Facebook user.

Indeed, the frequency at which accounts are accessed without authorisation has increased. Thus, the Facebook team has established mechanisms to tackle this issue of account invasion.

With these measures, Facebook users have nothing to be afraid of as regards the security of their accounts, provided they follow and pay keen attention to the Facebook security settings.

In essence, Facebook has taken measures to ensure its platform is well-secured. That notwithstanding, it is of a truth that hackers will make attempts to hack and steal your Facebook account.

The best way to secure your account is to take advantage of all the security settings Facebook has put in place to prevent your account from being stolen.

Here's a quick article on how to secure your Facebook account with Facebook security settings.

Change Your Facebook Security and Login Settings

In your Facebook account settings, Facebook allows you to adjust your security and login settings.

Security is built into every Facebook product. Facebook offers several security features, such as login alerts and two-factor authentication. This will help you add an extra layer of protection to your account.

You can also review and update your security settings at any time.

You can also visit our privacy shortcuts in your Facebook settings. All you have to do is:

Log in to your Facebook account.
Click on your profile picture.
Select Settings and privacy.
Click Settings and select Privacy.

Choose Friends to Contact if You Get Locked Out

This feature was made by Facebook to help users get back to their accounts anytime they get locked out through their trusted friends.

Facebook recommends that any user nominate 3-5 of his trusted friend’s contacts. The friends you select will be able to receive a recovery code with a URL that will allow you to get back into your account.

Where You are Logged in

This feature keeps a record of everywhere you are currently logged in or previously logged in including the logging time, device name, and IP address.

It’s advised that you log out of all sessions to keep your account safe.

Login – Facebook Security

Here, you will be able to change your account password and set your account to login with your profile picture.

We advised you to use a strong password combination when changing your account password.

Also, setting up your account to login with your profile picture might be risky, as anyone can easily access your account once they get to your device. So it’s better you turn it off.

Facebook Security: Two – Factor Authentication

This feature allows you to log in with a special security code anytime you are accessing your account on a new browser or device. Here, you will be shown different options you can choose from.

However, you can still review the devices where you won’t need a code before you log in.

Setting up this feature is a good one; it will help keep your account safe from hackers.

Other settings you can make in this section are:

Set up your account to send alerts to you if anyone logs in to a browser or device you don’t normally use.
You can also add extra security to your notification emails from Facebook that can only be decrypted.

As we have noted, two-factor authentication is a security feature that helps protect your Facebook account in addition to your password.

If you set up two-factor authentication, you'll be asked to enter a special login code or confirm your login attempt each time someone tries accessing Facebook from a new browser or mobile device. You can also get alerts when someone tries logging in from a browser or mobile device that is not recognized.

How to turn on or manage two-factor authentication

To turn on two-factor verification, do the following:

Go to your security and login settings.
Scroll down to Use two-factor authentication and click Edit.
Choose the security method that you want to add and follow the on-screen instructions.

If you set up two-factor authentication on Facebook, you’ll be asked to choose one of three security methods:

Tapping your security key on a compatible device.
Login code from a third-party authentication app.
Text message (SMS) code from your mobile phone.

Once you've turned on two-factor authentication, you can get ten recovery login codes to use when you're unable to use your phone.

Note the following:

If you haven't saved the browser or mobile device that you're using, you'll be asked to do so when you turn on two-factor authentication. This way, you won't have to enter a security code when you log in again. Don't click Save this browser if you're using a public computer that other people can access (e.g. the library computer).
Facebook needs to be able to remember your computer and browser information so that they can recognise it the next time you log in. Some browser features block this. If you've turned on private browsing or set up your browser to clear your history every time it closes, you might have to enter a code every time you log in.
To set up text message (SMS) two-factor authentication, you can either use a mobile number that's already been added to your account or add a new number.

Facebook Privacy Settings

With the Facebook privacy settings, you can adjust the settings on your activity and how people can find and contact you. This part of your account helps you to maintain your privacy on the site.

You can make changes to who sees your future post in the “Your Activity” section.

With these privacy settings, you can review all the posts you were tagged in and limit the audience for a post you have shared in public or with friends of friends.

The section tagged “How People Find You and Contact You” is where you can change settings on the following:

Who can send you a friend request?
Users who can see your friend list?
Who can look you up using the email address linked to your account?
Do you want a search engine outside of Facebook to link to your profile?

How to locate the audience selector on Facebook

The audience selector helps you choose who can see your post on Facebook. The audience selector can be found in most places where you share content on Facebook, such as posts, photos, and some information about your profile.

Here is how to change who can see your post on Facebook:

At the top of your feed or profile, click the text box next to your profile picture. From here, you can do things such as post a status update, upload a photo or video, or check in to an event.
Below your name, click on the audience selector (e.g., friends).
Click on the audience you'd like to see your content (e.g., friends, the public, or only me).
The audience selector will also appear on things you've already shared, so you can see who you've shared each post with. Once you've shared a post, you have the option to change who it's shared with.

Other ways to manage who can see your content:

Review and update your privacy settings for your profile.
Limit who can see your past posts.
Go to your activity log to review your posts and things you've been tagged in.
Visit your Profile and tagging settings to manage things such as who can see what other people post on your profile and review who can see the content you're tagged in.
Edit the basic information on your Facebook profile and choose who can see it.

You can use these settings to adjust how you want people to locate you anywhere on the internet and on Facebook

Conclusion

Facebook users can always be confident about the security of their accounts, as long as they adhere to the Facebook security settings.

In essence, Facebook has put in place settings to help secure their platform.

It's all in the Facebook Security Settings. I hope this article was helpful.

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