How can I check if my Facebook data was leaked?
A HUGE Facebook data breach resurfaced over the weekend when a user of a hacker forum posted stolen data from 553 million accounts.
Although the data was taken in 2019 and Facebook has since patched the security flaw, it’s left many wondering if their data has ever been leaked.
How can I check if my Facebook data was leaked?
Companies are legally required to tell you if they know your data has been breached so if you were affected by the 2019 Facebook data leak you probably already know about it.
You can also use a website called HaveIBeenPwned.com to check whether your email address is associated with a compromised account.
Just type your email address into the website’s search bar and click the “pwned” button.
The website will then show you any data breaches that may have involved your email address.
If this has happened, you’ll be advised to change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
The HaveIBeenPwned.com is even thinking about loading leaked phone numbers onto the website.
It already has a section to check if a password you use has been compromised before.
Phone numbers, Facebook IDs, names, birthdays and locations were just some of the valuable data about unknowing individuals being posted on a hacker forum over the weekend.
In a statement Facebook said: “This is old data that was previously reported on in 2019.
“We found and fixed this issue in August 2019.”
Despite the data being old, criminals could still attempt to use it to impersonate people so it’s best to be extra vigilant.
Why does it feel like Facebook is snooping on you?
Here's what you need to know...
- The magic of targeted advertising is that it should feel relevant to you – even if you can’t figure out why.
- Facebook doesn’t need to spy on your real-life conversations, because you hand over so much information anyway.
- Follow this link and you’ll be able to download everything Facebook knows about you. Most of you will quickly realise it’s a staggering amount of information.
- Advertisers can use information gleaned from your activity all across the web, on multiple devices, even if you’re not logged into Facebook or other services.
- They’ll likely know where you live, what you like, who your friends are, how much money you make, your political beliefs and much more.
- So when you get ads for something you’ve talked about out loud, it’s almost certainly just advertisers being very good at predicting your interests.
- It’s also possible that there’s an advertising campaign running, and you’ve seen an ad and not noticed. You’ve then spoken about it, never realising you’ve been advertised to, and only then notice future ads – which suddenly seem suspicious.
- Let’s say you talked about a holiday to Scotland, and then all of a sudden you’re being advertised holidays to Scotland.
- You may never have searched for anything to do with that before.
- But Facebook could use info about your level of wealth, your past holiday interests, the time of year (ads for wintry Scottish retreats are common in the colder months), and your location.
- What seems like snooping is actually just clever advertising.
Most read in Phones & Gadgets
In other news, LG has announced it will have to scrap its smartphone business after losing money.
Fraudsters are posing as contacts on Whatsapp to hack into people’s phones.
And, Apple may be preparing to unleash a flurry of new gadgets in a matter of days.
Do you worry about your social media being hacked? Let us know in the comments…
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