44.84 million people in the UK have a Facebook account, that’s a lot of gold for online criminals looking to cause you havoc by hacking your Facebook account.

For one business in Maidenhead, Berkshire when hackers gained access to their Facebook page it cost them over £2000 by fraudulently using the credit card on false advertising.

So, how can you keep your social media accounts secure?

• Update your password and pick a secure one - Make sure you are using a strong and separate password to protect your email.

• Don't use the same password on multiple accounts -Make sure that you're protecting your other important accounts, such as banking or social media with separate passwords.

• Consider using user roles on your social media accounts - It’s best practice to grant direct access to just a few select employees so your social media accounts can stay secure.

• Always enable two-step verification (2SV) -  It really simple to set up and will help you to stop hackers from getting into your online accounts, even if they find your password.

• Think before you authorise any third-party apps – Do not share your login information with apps you don’t know or trust.

• Log out of shared devices – Never tick the ‘Remember me’ box when logging into your account on a shared device and log out after using the device.

• Keep a backup of your data – By keeping a back up of your data, you will be able to have an export of your photos, comments and messages so that if you are hacked, your account content will not be lost.

• Regularly update your software and plugins - Ensure that any plugins or applications connected to your Facebook page are updated regularly. Outdated software can contain vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.

• Always report suspicious emails you have received. Please forward scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. and suspicious texts you have received but not acted upon to 7726

• If you lose access to your account or a hacker has taken control, please follow the NCSC’s guidance on how to recover a compromised account.

• If you receive a demand for money, do not pay the suspect so you can regain access to your account. It’s likely that the suspect will demand more money instead of giving you control of your account back.

• If you have paid any money, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online.

Need further support? The South East Cyber Resilience Centre can assist you with additional options:

The South East Cyber Resilience Centre (SECRC) is a small business which has been set up to increase levels of cyber resilience across the South East region. Whilst cyber security can be complex and costly, the SECRC offers a free membership option which helps you understand some of the risks from cybercrime, but also offering support and guidance to businesses in the region.

By taking proactive steps to strengthen your cyber security defences, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to a cyber attack and protect your business from potential harm.

If you have any questions or need further guidance on improving your small business cyber security, please do not hesitate to reach out. Remember, when it comes to cyber security, prevention is always better than cure.

Learn more: https://www.secrc.police.uk/free-information-pack