How to Secure Your Facebook Account (2026 Guide)
TL;DR
Most Facebook hacks are preventable. Enable two-factor authentication through Meta Accounts Center, turn on login alerts, use a unique password stored in a manager, and add a hardware key or passkey when you can. Review active sessions monthly and remove third-party apps you no longer use.
Why Facebook accounts keep getting hijacked
Facebook holds your photos, your messages, your community, and for many small businesses, a major sales channel. That makes it a constant target. The most common attack paths in 2026 are credential stuffing (reused passwords leaked from other breaches), phishing pages that imitate Facebook's login screen, session token theft from malware-infected browsers, and SIM swap attacks against accounts that still rely on SMS codes.
Once an attacker is in, the playbook is predictable. They change the email and password, remove your two-factor settings, and either run scams from your profile or sell access on underground forums. By the time most people notice, the account is already locked behind unfamiliar contact details.
The good news: every step below takes minutes and dramatically reduces your risk.
Step 1: Turn on two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is the single most effective protection against hijacking. Even if someone steals your password, they cannot sign in without your second factor.
Open Facebook, go to Settings & privacy → Settings → Accounts Center → Password and security → Two-factor authentication. Choose your account and pick one of three methods:
- Authentication app (recommended): Google Authenticator, Authy, or 1Password generates rotating six-digit codes that work even when you have no signal.
- Security key or passkey: A hardware key like YubiKey or a built-in passkey on your phone. The strongest option, because it cannot be phished.
- Text message: Codes sent by SMS. Better than nothing, but vulnerable to SIM swap attacks. Use only if you cannot use the other two methods.
After enabling 2FA, save your backup codes somewhere offline. If you ever lose access to your phone, those codes are how you regain access to your account.
Step 2: Enable login alerts
Login alerts notify you any time someone signs in from a new device or location. They are the fastest way to detect a compromise.
Go to Accounts Center → Password and security → Login alerts and turn on notifications via email and push. If you ever see an unrecognized login, change your password immediately and revoke all active sessions from the same screen.
Step 3: Review active sessions and connected devices
Most people have years of accumulated logins on devices they no longer use. Each one is a potential entry point.
Open Settings → Accounts Center → Password and security → Where you're logged in. Review the list. Anything you do not recognize, log out remotely. Anything from a phone you sold or a laptop you replaced, log out. Repeat this monthly.
Step 4: Use a strong, unique password
The single most common cause of Facebook hijacks in 2025 was password reuse. If you use the same password on Facebook as on any other site that gets breached, attackers will try those credentials on Facebook within hours.
Use a password manager (1Password, Bitwarden, Apple Passwords, Proton Pass) to generate and store a unique 16+ character password. Avoid words from your bio, your pet's name, or birthdays.
Better yet, switch to a passkey. Facebook now supports passkeys on iOS and Android. A passkey replaces your password with a device-bound cryptographic key, which removes phishing as an attack vector entirely.
Step 5: Set up recovery options before you need them
If your phone is lost or your email is compromised, you need backup paths into your account.
In Accounts Center → Personal details, add at least two confirmed contact methods. One phone number and one email, both of which you control and check regularly. Update them whenever they change. A retired email address is a dead recovery channel.
Step 6: Turn on Facebook Protect if you qualify
Facebook Protect is an enhanced security program for accounts at higher risk: journalists, human rights defenders, government officials, and public figures. Enrolled accounts get mandatory 2FA, more aggressive monitoring, and faster manual review when something goes wrong.
If you receive a Facebook Protect invitation, accept it. If you run a business page or have a large following, check whether you can opt in at facebook.com/protect.
Step 7: Audit connected apps and permissions
Every quiz, game, and "log in with Facebook" click adds another app with access to your data. Some of those companies have since shut down or sold their user data.
Go to Settings → Apps and websites. Remove anything you do not actively use. For apps you keep, review what data they can access and revoke permissions you do not need.
Step 8: Learn to spot phishing
The "Facebook Security Team" will not email you from a Gmail address. They will not message you on WhatsApp. They will not threaten to delete your page in 24 hours unless you click a link.
Real Facebook notifications appear in your inbox at facebook.com under Settings → See recent emails from Facebook. If a message is not in that list, it is not from Facebook. When in doubt, do not click. Open Facebook directly in your browser and check your notifications there.
Security methods at a glance
| Method | Strength | Phishing resistant |
|---|---|---|
| Password only | Weak | No |
| Password + SMS 2FA | Medium | No |
| Password + authenticator app | Strong | Partial |
| Passkey or hardware key | Strongest | Yes |
What if your account is already compromised?
If you suspect a hack, act in this order:
- Try to log in at facebook.com/hacked.
- If your email or phone has been changed, request a code at the same URL.
- Check your inbox for "If you didn't change your email/password" messages from Facebook. They contain a "secure your account" link that is valid for a limited time.
- If standard recovery fails, the next step is a legal escalation. Read our guide on how to regain access to a hacked Facebook account.
If your account has been disabled rather than hacked, the appeal process is different. See our Facebook disabled account appeal guide.
When self-recovery is not enough
Sometimes the recovery options are exhausted, the linked email is gone, or Facebook's automated system keeps rejecting your appeal. At that point, you need someone who can reach a real human at Meta and apply legal pressure under GDPR Article 15 (right of access) and the EU Digital Services Act.
Recover handles exactly these cases. Our legal department restores 97% of accounts and resolves 96% of cases within 30 days. The one-time fee starts at €290 for personal profiles, with a full money-back guarantee if recovery fails. You can also use our pay-after-recovery option with only a €19 verification deposit upfront.
FAQ
Does Facebook still support trusted contacts for recovery?
The legacy Trusted Contacts feature has been retired. Today the equivalent is account recovery via verified email addresses, phone numbers, and the human review path available to Meta Verified subscribers.
Can I use one authenticator app for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads?
Yes. Because Meta unified these accounts under Accounts Center, your 2FA app can hold codes for all three. Many people set them up at the same time during a single security review.
Are passkeys safer than two-factor authentication?
Passkeys are stronger because they cannot be phished. With 2FA, a fake login page can still trick you into typing your code. Passkeys verify the real Facebook domain cryptographically, so the attack does not work.