With over 2.8 billion monthly active users, Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide. However, with such a massive user base, Facebook also attracts a lot of attention from hackers and cybercriminals looking to steal personal information.
One common question that many Facebook users have is whether frequently changing their Facebook password can help protect their account from being hacked. Here, we’ll explore this question more in-depth.
How do hackers get access to Facebook accounts?
There are a few common ways that hackers gain access to Facebook accounts:
- Phishing – Hackers send links to fake login pages and trick users into entering their credentials. These credentials are then used to access the real Facebook account.
- Credential stuffing – Hackers use lists of usernames and passwords leaked from other website breaches and try them on Facebook to see if they work.
- Malware/keyloggers – Malicious software or keyloggers secretly installed on a user’s device can record passwords and other information.
- Session hijacking – Hackers steal the login session or access token after a user logs in to their account. This allows access without knowing the password.
- Social engineering – Manipulating users via psychological tricks to divulge their passwords or other sensitive information.
In many cases, hackers are able to gain access to accounts without ever needing the password. Session hijacking, malware, and phishing can allow access regardless of how often the password is changed.
Does changing your password regularly help?
Yes, regularly changing your Facebook password can be one layer of protection against your account being hacked. Here are some of the key benefits:
- If your password is leaked in a breach, regular changes limit how long hackers have access.
- It makes password guessing and brute force attacks more difficult since the password is changed before they can try enough guesses.
- Stolen credentials from old breaches are more likely to be outdated and not work.
- If you previously used the same password on multiple sites, changing it protects other accounts if one site is breached.
Overall, a good practice is to change your Facebook password every 90 days or so. This prevents continued access if your credentials are compromised, without having to change it so frequently that it’s a hassle to remember.
What are the limitations of changing passwords?
While regularly changing your password is helpful, there are also some limitations to be aware of:
- It only protects against one specific hacking method – stolen credentials. Other methods like session hijacking don’t require knowing the latest password.
- Hackers can continue accessing the account until the password is changed if they already obtained the current password.
- Users often make small variations of the same password that are easy to guess.
- It can be inconvenient to frequently reset passwords, especially if unique, complex ones are used.
The main takeaway is that changing passwords is just one piece of good security practices. It should be used along with other protections like two-factor authentication, avoiding phishing links, installing anti-malware software, and more.
Best practices for creating a secure Facebook password
To get the most benefit from changing your Facebook password, here are some tips for creating a strong password:
- Use a minimum length of 8 characters, but longer is better.
- Include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters.
- Incorporate numbers and symbols.
- Avoid using names, dictionary words, or other personal info.
- Don’t reuse passwords from other sites.
- Consider using a password manager to generate and store unique passwords.
You can also enable Facebook’s password manager called Facebook Protect. This will require you to set up two-factor authentication and will automatically scan websites you use for any breaches containing your email or phone number. If it finds your credentials exposed in a breach, Facebook Protect will prompt you to change your Facebook password.
Should you change your password after noticing strange activity?
If you notice any suspicious activity in your Facebook account such as posts you didn’t make, messages you didn’t send, or new friend requests to people you don’t know, it’s a good idea to immediately change your password.
This strange activity could indicate your account has been compromised. Changing the password prevents continued access for whoever currently is in your account. Make sure to also report the suspicious activity to Facebook and enable two-factor authentication if you haven’t already.
How to change your Facebook password
Changing your Facebook password is easy to do:
- Click on the arrow in the top right and go to “Settings”.
- In the left column, click “Security and login”.
- Under “Security”, click “Edit” next to “Change password”.
- Enter your current password, then enter and confirm your new password.
- Click “Save Changes”.
You can also change your password directly from the Facebook login page by clicking “Forgotten password?” and resetting it.
Conclusion
Changing your Facebook password regularly is a worthwhile security practice to protect against stolen credentials and prevent continued access if your account is compromised. However, it’s most effective when combined with other safety best practices. Use unique complex passwords, enable two-factor authentication, avoid suspicious links/files, and be cautious when accessing Facebook from public networks.
While changing your password frequently won’t fully guarantee your account stays secure, it makes life a lot harder for cybercriminals trying to break in. Enabling other security features like login approvals adds even more barriers for hackers. With good password hygiene and other safety habits, you can dramatically reduce your risk of being hacked.