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Find out if someone's logging in to your Facebook account

If you've noticed some suspicious activity on your Facebook account--messages you never sent, Wall posts you never published, or Notifications you never checked--someone might be logging into your account.

Sharon Profis Vice President of Content, CNET Studios
As the Vice President of CNET Studios, Sharon leads the video, social, editorial design, and branded content teams. Before this role, Sharon led content development and launched new verticals for CNET, including Wellness, Money, and How To. A tech expert herself, she's reviewed and covered countless products, hosted hundreds of videos, and appeared on shows like Good Morning America, CBS Mornings, and the Today Show. An industry expert, Sharon is a recurring Best of Beauty Awards judge for Allure. Sharon is an avid chef and hosts the cooking segment 'Farm to Fork' on PBS nationwide. She's developed and published hundreds of recipes.
Credentials
  • Webby Award ("How To, Explainer, and DIY Video"); Folio Changemaker Award, 2020
Sharon Profis
2 min read

If you've noticed some suspicious activity on your Facebook account--messages you never sent, Wall posts you never published, or Notifications you never checked--someone might be logging into your account.

And because they can use your username (unique URL) to log in, all they need is your password to access your account.

Luckily, Facebook recognizes this possibility and has implemented some security tools to ease your worries and help you keep track of any mischief on your account.

To get started, head to Account Settings > Security. Then consider the following security options:

1. Keep tabs on hackers with log-in notifications
To keep tabs on who is logging in, enable Login Notifications. Each time someone logs in to your account at an unrecognized computer or mobile device, Facebook will alert you via text message or e-mail. With that information, you can end that session (see No. 3) and change your password.

Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET

2. Enable log-in approvals
Log-in approvals, a two-step log-in option, gives you the maximum level of security with almost no chance of a hacker gaining access to your account. When you log in at an unrecognized computer, Facebook will ask you to enter a security code that's sent to your phone.

It's a little cumbersome, but a good option if you're experiencing hacking (or worried about an ex stalking your account).

Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET

3. End any suspicious activity
To see where exactly your account is logged in, head to "Active Sessions." You'll see your current session listed at the top, and log-ins on other computers below. If any of those log-ins look suspicious (you can usually tell by the location), click "End Activity" and change your password.

Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET