Facebook boosts security efforts, ask users to confirm cell numbers

Facebook's security page.

/ Screenshot by Steven Musil/CNET

(CNET) In the wake of a rash of password leaks, Facebook wants to educate its members about how to make their accounts more secure and is asking for users' cell phone numbers as part of that effort.

The social network has begun adding a message at the top of every member's news feed that suggests they "Stay in control of your account by following these simple security tips." The message includes a link to Facebook's security page, where users are tutored on how to identify a scam and choose a unique password, and are asked to provide a cell phone number where replacement passwords can be sent.

Possession of users' cell phone numbers could allow Facebook to immediately wipe out passwords and send users new ones via text message, avoiding the delay inherent in waiting for users to follow e-mailed warnings to reset their passwords.

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While the message is expected to be rolled out to all desktop users during the next couple of days, Facebook had planned the initiative before recent high-profile password leaks at LinkedIn and eHarmony, the social network told TechCrunch's Josh Constine, who first reported on the message's appearance.

LinkedIn confirmed last week that some passwords on a list of

LinkedIn confirms passwords were 'compromised'

Hours after LinkedIn members reported that their passwords were on a list of stolen passwords, LinkedIn confirms it.

belong to its members, but did not say how its site was compromised. On the same day, dating site

eHarmony member passwords compromised

that passwords used by its members had been compromised.

This article first appeared at CNET with the headline "Facebook wants users' cell numbers in bid to bolster security."

[ScorpioJax66]

the government already has that info and much more. They can pinpoint your location and find all sorts of info about you just from your post on here. I would say to beware of anybody knocking on your door, but they probably will not knock when they come for you. You will never know it has happen and neither will we. They will take over your online accounts and keep posting as you to fool us. You ca not trust anyone now, not even yourself. Your best option to eliminate yourself before they do.

[jtdev1]

Yeah, Right!

They just want your cell phone number so they can add that to all the other information they collect on you and SELL.

Oh also they "Provide" all this information to the police, fbi, cia, dhs, etc... All to be "Compiled" into a neat little file on you and what you do.

This way it makes it SOOOOOOO easy to track everything about you.

Seriously, this is not a joke, it's real. I may have sounded sarcastic up there, but it's real, just trying to let you know what really is going on.


Security, my A$$