Maintaining privacy on the Internet is something very important and we do not always achieve it. Through social networks, for example, our personal data can be compromised. This happens on platforms like Facebook. Although we can make the profile private and thus reduce the risk of information being leaked, the truth is that sometimes this does not always happen. In this article we are going to explain why they can see our private Facebook profile and what we can do to prevent this from happening.
Why can they see your private Facebook profile?
Something common that we can take into account is to make the Facebook profile private . Basically it means that only our contacts will be able to access the information that we publish. For example, they could not see photos that we upload, who our friends are, where we have been, etc. But there are some methods or strategies that they can use to achieve it.
bot accounts
One such method is through bot accounts or phishing . What someone who wants to enter our private Facebook account does is create an account and add us. We accept that user thinking that there is no problem and he will see everything that we have hidden.
They can use bots, which are basically massively created accounts to send spam or collect personal data. But they could also create an account with a name and surname that even belongs to someone close to us. We can believe that it really is that person and we add it. With this you will have access to our account, even if we have it private.
Login from another account
They could also use a method as simple as accessing another account that we do have added and see all the information even if we have the private profile. This is not so simple, since they are going to need a third person and they are going to have to know that they have us added, but it is another option.
But not only will they be able to do it if the other person wants, but also by force. That is, they could steal an account through a Phishing attack, keylogger or any other variety of malware and, in this way, know what the password is and enter. They could thus see the content that we have published.
steal your password
Also, they could steal our own account and have full access. This would allow them to take control, view private messages, contacts, post on our behalf, etc. It is an option that hackers will have, since they could even sell our profile on the Dark Web and make a profit.
Now, how can they steal the account? There are different methods that they can use. A common one is a Phishing attack, which basically what they do is send an email with some kind of bait for us to log in. The data we put will end up in the hands of attackers, without us noticing.
They can also use malware to steal data and passwords. For example a keylogger, which what it does is record all the keystrokes that we put and thus steal the access codes of Facebook or any other platform.
Through other services
We can link some online services and applications to Facebook. For example, we can log in through the account of this social network and thus not have to register or create a different one. Although this may seem useful and is sometimes a good option for convenience and speed, it can become a problem.
Those services may have access to our account, view information we share, etc. In case there is any problem, such as a leak, we could see that our privacy is compromised.
What to do to avoid it
As you can see, it is possible that someone can see your Facebook account even if you have it private. However, there are certain measures that you will be able to put into practice to increase security and preserve your data. The goal is to make it difficult for others to see what you post, who your contacts are, or where you’ve been.
protect the account
Of course, a first step is to protect the account properly. To do this you must use a good password . This is essential to prevent attacks and prevent a possible intruder from gaining access without your permission. That access key must be unique, totally random and contain letters (both upper and lower case), numbers and other special symbols.
But also, it’s a good idea to enable Facebook’s two-step authentication . This will help you create an extra layer of protection. You will be able to prevent the entry of intruders even if they know your password, since they will need a second step to achieve it. That second step can be, for example, a code that you receive by SMS.
Add only acquaintances
It’s also a good idea to only add contacts you trust . Avoid adding anyone who sends us a request without really knowing who it is, as it could be a fake bot or profile. That would allow you to access the information we post, even if we keep the Facebook account private.
Therefore, just limit yourself to adding friends, family and contacts in general that you know who they are and you don’t mind that they can see private data that you can share on this social network. This is important so that information is not leaked.
Control linked services and applications
Similarly, be careful when linking other services and applications to Facebook. For example, you can link other online platforms and not have to log in every time you want to access. It is true that this is useful and saves time, but it can be a major problem.
What you should do is avoid linking this type of service and, if you decide to do so, take a good look at what you are adding at all times. You can search for information and verify that it is not a scam.
Use official programs
Something essential is also to always use official applications . You should avoid installing software from non-legitimate sources as they could be cheating and pose a significant problem to your privacy. They may contain malware or be leaking information to potential attackers.
Our advice is that you install Facebook directly from its official page or use secure application stores, such as Google Play. Alternatively, you can also log in directly from the website. Never enter from links you find on third party sites, as they could be a trap.
In short, as you can see, it is possible that someone can read the information you share on Facebook even if you have a private account. However, you can take into account a series of tips to improve security and privacy and thus reduce the risk of problems.