There are a plethora of games, apps, pics, videos, and links on Facebook. Many of which are simply ploys to either access your information, or to gain access to your account. After doing so, they will post to your profile, and to your friend's profiles, links that will help them gain access to more accounts. They may also gain access to your other accounts such as email, bank, and credit cards. There are a few things to look out for:
If you click a link on Facebook, and it asks you to sign into Facebook, it will most likely not be Facebook. This is a common ploy to get you to enter your account information so they can use it to access your account. Look at the URL(Address Bar), or just leave the page and return to Facebook, you are most likely still logged in.
If you must "Like" a page to view its contents, and it is not from a trusted source such as a well-known business, it is most likely a hack or spam of some sorts. After "Liking" a page, it will post to your profile, getting others to do the same.
Things to help avoid this happening:
Change your password often. Every 3-6 months is usually good. Do not use the same password you use for your online financial accounts. Remember that email you used to sign up? Most people use the same password for that email, and they also get banking and credit card statements to that email, which tells the hacker exactly what bank you use, a password that may work, and an email address that may work as a login for that bank. To think, all this started with a link on Facebook!
Know what your friends post. If you get a post, or see a post, that is our of ordinary for that friend, let them know immediately. If they posted it purposefully, no harm, if not, they will be thankful. Remind them to change their password, too.
Check your account page often by clicking your name. This will tell you what you have posted both on your page, as well as friend's pages. There are so many "status updates" out there, it is easy to miss what has been posted to your own profile.
Finally, don't click on odd links. Usually YouTube links are okay, as well as some news reports, but if you can't see the URL(Address), or can't tell its from YouTube, it may be a hack. Check that URL to see if the address makes sense. I saw a link for "A Crazy Tsunami Video" that was at some site that had nothing to do with news, this is during the Japan quake/tsunami so many people will want to see information. Hackers will use anything to gain access. If you do click, read the above!
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