Facebook security has been given a welcome overhaul with a set of clever new features to battle the legions of keyloggers and malware makers throwing themselves against the social network’s defenses. We’ve not always been that complimentary about Facebook (see last week’s Facebook iPhone app brouhaha) but this time we have to say we’re impressed. Read on for details of the new Facebook security measures…
A new Facebook service which will give you a new one-time password when you’re using public computers or Wi-Fi networks is currently rolling out. It allows you to use the password sent to your mobile rather than you usual password. The one time access code will work for 20 minutes and is intended to combat the threat from keyloggers lurking on public computers to snaffle up your passwords.
Jake Brill, a product manager at Facebook, announced the new feature on the Facebook Blog. He says: “One-time passwords make it safer to use public computers in places like hotels, cafes or airports. If you have any concerns about the security of the computer you’re using while accessing Facebook, we can text you a one-time password to use instead…”
To set up the new Facebook security feature, you need to set up a mobile number in your account. When you text “otp” to 32665, you should be sent a new time-limited password. Currently the feature has only reached an exclusive band of Facebook users but will hit all accounts in time.
Facebook has also outed two new features. There’s a new remote sign off feature (similar to the one packed by Gmail) that will allow users to log-out of Facebook in all the locations they’re logged in at. It’s now also possible to spot where you’re logged in by checking your Facebook account settings. Handy for spotting if someone is spying on your profile.
Facebook has also announced that it’s planning a third new Facebook security feature that will regularly prompt you to update your security information. We hope it’s not too regular with those updates.
Let us know: have you been caught out by a keylogger or had your Facebook profile hacked in some other way?
Out now | £free | Facebook
