Facebook has released new security features allowing users to request help from close friends when a Facebook account is blocked.
A post on Facebook’s security page says soon users will be able to set three to five Facebook friends as ‘trusted friends’, who will be given special codes that unlock a locked Facebook account for a user who can’t access their e-mail.
The new features also include a feature called ‘app passwords’ which bring increased security to optional Facebook applications.
Normally Facebook users have to get their password sent to their e-mail when they forget it, but when a hacker has compromised both their email and Facebook account, users can’t regain access to their Facebook very easily.
In different cases, people who previously signed up with Facebook a long time ago may not be able to access their expired email account to unlock their account.
The new ‘trusted friends’ feature allows you to get back your locked account with the help of your closest friends.
Facebook said in a press release:
“Similar to other features that help you prove your identity through your friends, you can now select three to five trusted friends who can help you if you ever have issues accessing your account. It’s sort of similar to giving a house key to your friends when you go on vacation–pick the friends you most trust in case you need their help.”
“If you forgot your password and need to login but can’t access your email account, you can rely on your friends to help you get back in. We will send codes to the friends you have selected and they can pass along that information to you.”
Facebook’s new app passwords feature allows you to set specific passwords for your third-party Facebook applications, meaning users can securely log into their Facebook games and plugins using a unique code.
Facebook described the additional features thusly:
“There are tons of applications you can use by logging in with your Facebook credentials. However, in some cases, you may want to have a unique password for that application. This is especially helpful if you have opted into Login Approvals, for which security codes don’t always work when using third-party applications.”
“We are testing a feature that allows you to use app passwords for logging into third-party applications. Simply go to your Account Settings, then the Security tab, and finally to the App Passwords section. You can generate a password that you won’t need to remember, just enter it along with your email when logging into an application.”
Hopefully the latest update and app passwords will make Facebook more secure both on the main site and when users utilize third-party applications.
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