Facebook security breach affects 50 million accounts

Facebook Inc said on Friday that hackers were able to steal digital login codes which allowed them to take over nearly 50 million user accounts. This is Facebook’s worst security breach to date.

The attackers would be able to access sensitive information on Facebook, such as taking over profiles and hypothetically access any information within their Facebook profile. These attackers would also be able to access many websites that use the social network’s “Login with Facebook” function.

As a precaution, Facebook users should keep a keen eye on any suspicious activity they see within their Facebook profile and within their connected apps in Facebook. One should keep an eye out for apps they may have not connected to their Facebook profile and now suddenly appear. Here is what to do:

**Go to Facebook and click on the arrow in the top right.

**Click on “Settings” and then on “Apps and Websites.”

**You will see the companies with which your account has been logged in using your Facebook account. If you do not recognize any of these companies, you should report them to Facebook.

**For companies you did use Facebook’s single sign-on, go to those accounts to see if anything has changed or there was any recent suspicious activity.

**Look out for any suspicious activity from companies that you have not signed up for.

** Look to make sure that your name, birthday, email or password has not been changed

If you worry that your account has been hacked, there is a simple way to check. Go to the arrow in the upper left-hand corner of your Facebook page and click on it. In the menu, select Settings. A new menu will pop up. Choose Security and then Where You’re Logged In.

A list of all the devices you have used recently to login to Facebook will appear. If you see a place or device that is not you, chances are that you have been hacked. If you see anything that isn’t you, click End Activity on the right side of the log to end the session. The hacker will be logged out temporarily.

Once you click on End Activity, change your password right away. Next, you will need to reach out to Facebook and have them assist your. Facebook has a system to help you if you’ve been hacked.

On the Facebook help page, click on I think my account was hacked or someone is using it without my permission, and then click on secure it. Facebook will take you to a page where you log in and then go about the steps to securing your account.

It has not announced how many of those 50 million accounts were accessed or what if any information was taken.