As an entrepreneur, I rely on Facebook to market my small business online and connect with customers. However, that also means my account contains sensitive information that could seriously impact my business if compromised. By changing my Facebook password regularly, I make it far less likely that someone can access my account without authorization.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll demonstrate the simple steps to change your Facebook password on both mobile and desktop platforms. I‘ll also provide best practices to keep your account secured.
The Risks of Poor Password Hygiene
Before I show you how to change your password, it helps to understand the risks of using weak passwords and reuse across sites. According to the FBI, over 80% of hacking incidents leverage poor passwords or security practices.
Common threats include:
- Hacking: Criminals can run programs to guess common or compromised passwords.
- Phishing: Scam emails or texts pretend to be Facebook, tricking you into revealing your password.
- Data breaches: When sites suffer breaches, reused passwords put accounts at risk.
In 2022 alone, over 37 billion passwords were compromised or stolen. Yet 66% of people continue using the same passwords across accounts.
By regularly changing your Facebook password to something unique, complex and securely stored, you make it extremely difficult for anyone to access your account without permission.
Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Password
Ready to change your Facebook password? The process only takes a minute to complete:
On Desktop:
- Login to Facebook and click the arrow > Settings & Privacy > Settings
- Click Security and Login on the left sidebar
- Under Change Password, click Edit
- Enter your current password, then new password twice
- Click Save Changes
On iPhone:
- Open the Facebook app and tap the lines icon < > Settings & Privacy > Settings
- Scroll and tap Security and Login
- Tap Change Password
- Enter current and new passwords
- Tap Save Changes
On Android:
- In the Facebook app, tap the lines icon < > Settings & Privacy > Settings
- Tap Security and Login
- Tap Change Password
- Enter current and new passwords
- Tap Save Changes
It‘s that quick across all devices!
Creating a Strong, Unique Password
When changing your password, be sure your new password follows cybersecurity best practices:
- 12+ characters mixing upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols
- Not a dictionary word or name
- Unique from all other accounts
- Stored in a password manager like LastPass or 1Password
Password managers can automatically generate secure passwords for each account. This lets you use long, random strings without the struggle to remember them!
Enabling Two-Factor Authentication
In your Facebook Security settings, I also strongly recommend enabling two-factor authentication (2FA).
With 2FA, you need to enter a temporary code from your phone when logging in from a new device. So even someone has your password, they still can‘t access your account!
Between strong password hygiene and enabling 2FA, you create incredible barriers for cybercriminals trying to compromise your Facebook presence.
I‘m happy to walk through any questions you have about enacting these best practices – just ask! Stay secure out there.
