540 million data records of Facebook users were compromised after third-party apps and sites stored the data on unsecured servers.
The leaked information included comments, likes, reactions, account names, and FB IDs, and some email addresses. The app called At The Pool even stored passwords of 22,000 users in plaintext.
Security expert tips: If you have used At The Pool, make sure you are not reusing the same password for any other accounts. All other Facebook users, beware of phishing attacks based on your account activity.
How to protect yourself
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Don’t use third-party Facebook apps. These apps collect data on Facebook and deliver it to third parties who may not be secure. If you don’t want your private data showing up on unsecured servers, don’t use any third-party apps on Facebook.
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Don’t use Facebook. This is a tough ask for many users, but the arguments for leaving Facebook are growing. With more and more data breaches and suspicious activities coming to light every month, more people are questioning whether this free service is worth it.
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Reduce your Facebook activity levels. The less time you spend on Facebook and the less you do on their platform, the less they know about you. When creating or editing your account, don’t provide them with any more data than they need to provide their service.
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