Global Facebook Security Breach: What It Means For You. All Details Here

After Facebook acknowledged that the accounts of 50 million users were compromised in a massive global security breach, users are livid, worried and plain confused. So here is all you may need to know about the massive global security breach and what it could mean for you. 

HOW YOUR SECURITY ON FACEBOOK MAY HAVE BEEN BREACHED 

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said a “technical vulnerability” may have been exploited.  This technical vulnerability affected the ‘View As’ feature on the Facebook Timeline that lets people see what their own profile looks like to others. This corruption of the ‘View As’ feature made it possible for the attacker to remain logged into a profile giving them full access to photos, messages, linked data and any other content the users connected to Facebook.  

WHAT DID FACEBOOK DO ABOUT IT? 

While there is still no clarity on the extent to the security breach, Facebook has taken 3 steps to stop the damage: 

They say they “fixed the vulnerability and informed law enforcement.” 
They have reset the digital keys that keep people logged to their Facebook profile. (This may explain why you are eerily logged out of Facebook!) 
They have turned for the ‘View As’ feature for now and trying accessing it will simply lead you to a message that says “Preview my Profile disabled”

READ | Taiwanese Hacker Says He's Going To Delete Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook Account

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU? 

2.5 billion people used at least one of Facebook’s apps: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger. This breach could mean a loss of information from any and all of these platforms. 

But it’s probably much, much bigger than that. 

Facebook is linked to various apps, sometimes by default, sometimes for convenience. These linked apps like Zomato, Skype, and Uber may also be at risk as a result of the Facebook security issue that has hit at least 50 million users. 

Now, consider this:

• For example, what if the attacker who can log in to a Facebook account, is then able to log into your food delivery app linked to Facebook and access any banking information you might have saved? 
• For example, what if the who attacker can log in to the Facebook account and can access a linked cab booking app, and have full control over your digital wallets? 
• And what if the attacker who has a hold of a Facebook account, is then able to access apps like Skype and steal contact information? 

Facebook is yet to provide clarity on any of this. 

READ | Massive Security Breach By Facebook; Over 50 Million Accounts Affected

ARE ELECTIONS IN TROUBLE?

Post the Cambridge Analytica data breach scandal  Zuckerberg in a joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committees, in the United States said "2018 is an important year for the whole world. Several countries like India, Pakistan will have elections. We'll do everything possible to ensure these elections are safe." With a security breach affecting a potential 90 million today, the question is, are our elections really safe? Is this a warning bell to re-secure India’s 2019 Lok Sabha elections?

WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?

Because precaution is better than a data breach, and because it is better late than never, you can head to the  “Security and Login” page of Facebook and review all your settings. The page will look something like this:

A SUBTLE REMINDER TO MARK ZUCKERBERG (BECAUSE IT’S ABOUT TIME)

Interestingly, on 22 March, 2018 in the midst of the mysterious Cambridge Analytica Scandal, Mark Zuckerberg shared a 3 point agenda to secure the platform. And it seems, now is a time for a subtle reminder to the Facebook founder on what he had promised back then “I started Facebook, and at the end of the day I'm responsible for what happens on our platform. I'm serious about doing what it takes to protect our community.”