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Who is your friend?

This is what you may have wondered after a confusing weekend on Facebook during which many people were advised not to accept requests from existing friends of friends.

The messages read as follows: "Hi … I actually received another friend request from you yesterday … that I ignored, so you might want to consult your account …"

Then he tells you to "hold your finger on the message until the transfer button appears … then press the transfer button …".

But chained messages have done more harm than good, causing concern over cloning and hacking on Facebook, which in many cases has not occurred, officials said.

"Your account does not send duplicate friend requests and you have not received a request from the person you are transferring to," said a message from the Office of Homeland Security. and the Civil Protection of Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana. "You just do it because the message tells you."

Internet security site HoaxSlayer.net also noted that a number of people have panicked and transferred the message, whether it is or not.

"At the risk of asking the evidence, sending a second friend request warning is only useful if you have actually received a second friend request from someone else." The warning should ONLY be sent to the friend whose name appears on the second friend request, "read an article on the site.

Some Facebook users over the weekend said that they were removing Facebook's Messenger application, fearing it would make them vulnerable to hackers.

But before dropping social media or doing anything radical, consider performing a small security check via Facebook.

How to check if you have been cloned

Find yourself on Facebook to see if another account with your name and photo appears. If this is the case and you want to report someone claiming to be yourself or someone you know, go to the impersonation account profile, click on the cover photo, select "Report" , according to Facebook.

Follow the instructions for "impersonation" to file a report.

If you can not find the account but your friends have told you about it, try looking for the name used in the profile or ask your friends if they can send you a link.

How to check if you have been hacked

Click on the arrow in the upper right corner if you are connected to a computer or press the menu icon if you are on a phone and select "Settings", says Facebook. Click on "Security" and then on "Where you are connected."

A menu appears with all connected devices. If you see an unrecognizable location, click on "Do not you?" Follow the steps to secure your account or report the incident via Facebook.com/help.

General security assistance

You can take simple steps to increase the security of your account. Just go into "Settings" and then "Security and Connection" and select options like these that could put you at ease:

  • Change your password
  • Use a two-factor identification by logging in with a code from your phone and a password.
  • Receive alerts about unrecognized connections.
  • Choose three to five friends to contact if your account is blocked.

See more on Facebook.com/settings?tab=security. For general questions on Facebook, visit Facebook.com/help.

Sheri Berkery: @SheriBerkery; 856-486-2673; [email protected]

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