How to Tell if Someone Is on Your Facebook Account
Social media giants like Facebook are not immune to security issues. The company has repeatedly struggled with hacking, and it is a common occurrence nowadays. If you have noticed some strange activity on your Facebook account recently, your account may be compromised.
Was it a picture you do not remember posting or a change you do not recognize in your feed? This article will show you how to tell if someone else is using your Facebook account.
How to See Last Active Uses on Facebook
Before wracking your brain and thinking about what your new password should be and how much time you have to react, there's another step to consider.
You can tell if someone else has used your Facebook account by checking the last active status. Facebook enabled this feature several years back to help monitor your log-ins and flag up suspicious sessions.
Keep in mind that Facebook won't have the precise location of each log-in. Some might be way off; it all depends on where you are in the world and the server's location. Regardless, you'll still have the date and time stamps, as well as which device got used to gain access.
Facebook has a lot of settings. Often, it's kind of difficult to navigate through all of them. How, for instance, are you supposed to find the Activity history on Facebook? Here's how to do it.
Get Facebook History from iPhone or Android
Most people use Facebook on their phones, so here is how to check your login history using the Facebook app:
- Open the Facebook app and tap the "three horizontal lines" in the top right corner.
- Scroll down under "Settings & Privacy," then select "Settings."
- Under "Security," select "Security and Login." You will find yourself on the page with a section called "Where you're logged in." Facebook will show you the "Active now" status in blue letters. It should be the device you are currently using.
- If you want to see more, tap on the blue "See all" option to the right. You'll see the last active sessions, including the approximate location, type/model of the device, and the most recent log-in time.
If you see a device or location that you do not recognize, tap on the three vertical dots. Then, select 'Log Out.'
You can also tap the 'Secure Account' option on this page. This button will walk you through changing your password and other Facebook security features.
Get Facebook History from PC or MAC
If you find navigating through the Facebook web portal more convenient than the app, you can check the log-in history using that method.
The overall concept is the same. Given that the website and the app have some significant differences regarding the user interface (UI,) it is best to list all of the steps required for the website. Here is what you need to do:
- Log into your Facebook account, then click on the little "downward triangle" in the top right corner of the screen.
- From the "drop-down menu," select "Settings and Privacy," then choose "Settings."
- From the panel on the left, select "Security and Login."
- You can also see the "Where You're Logged In" option. The current active session is listed, and the green "Active now" status displays. If you want to see all sessions, click on the blue "See More" option, and the menu will expand.
That is all there is to viewing Facebook history from a PC or Mac.
How to Log Out of Devices in Facebook
Locating the suspicious device or activity might be easy enough, but what are you supposed to do once you learn that information?
You can check your last activity on Facebook using your phone, tablet, or computer with just a few straightforward steps. The best course of action is to log out of the devices you do not recognize or log out from every device to be extra safe.
That is entirely up to you. Fortunately, unlike some social media platforms and websites, Facebook will give you both choices. Here is how you do it.
Log Out of a Certain Device in Facebook using iOS or Android
If you'd like to keep your current devices connected to Facebook, you can always log out of the unknown device with ease.
- Launch Facebook on iOS or Android, then click the "Menu" icon in the top-right section.
- Select "Settings."
- Under the "Security" menu, tap on "Security and Login."
- Select "See all" to open the entire list of devices.
- Tap the "ellipsis" icon (three vertical dots) to open the selected device's activity details.
- Select "Log Out" for the chosen device.
Performing these steps will instantly log the user out of your account. If it was someone accessing your account and you changed your login credentials, they won't be able to log back into your account. If the device shows up again later, it might be one of your devices, even if it displays as an unknown device. However, it is still possible that a hacker could crack your new login password too.
Log Out of All Devices at Once in Facebook from iPhone or Android
If the only device you use to get online is your smartphone, or you prefer it, logging out from all devices on Facebook is the best route to go.
- Open the Facebook app and navigate to "Menu -> Settings -> Security and Login -> See all."
- Scroll to the bottom and then select "LOG OUT OF ALL SESSIONS."
Facebook automatically signs you out from all sessions on the list, except your current session.
Log Out of All Devices at Once in Facebook from PC or MAC
You can log out of all sessions at once or individually by accessing the Facebook web portal.
If you are worried about certain strange activities on your profile, you need to do the following on your Mac or PC:
- Navigate to the "Where You're Logged In" option. Click on the blue "See More" option to expand the list of all past and current sessions.
- If you want to log out every device in one go, click on the "Log Out Of All Sessions" option in the bottom right corner.
- Facebook will ask you to confirm your choice by clicking on "Log Out" again.
Log Out of Certain Device in Facebook using PC or Mac
If you feel that there is no need to log out from everywhere, there is a solution for that too. Here is how to log out of specific devices in Facebook using Windows or macOS:
- Select the device or session you are not sure about and click on the "ellipsis" icon (three vertical dots) on the side. A tiny pop-up window will appear that says, "Not You?" and "Log Out."
- The "Not You?" option gives you a chance to review the session and perhaps remember that it was you after all. Alternatively, you can get a little more information about the activity.
- The "Log Out" option will immediately log out the device in question.
You can repeat this process as many times as you need. Facebook won't allow a sign-out from your current session on the web portal, just like Android and iOS.
In closing, opening Facebook and seeing strange activity on your profile can be concerning, especially if it has been a while since you've used your account. Before acting on it, review all the sessions and try to figure out when someone might have gained access to your account. Then, get busy and log out of every device that is not yours and change your password. Also, you can use all of the bonus safety measures Facebook offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Protecting your Facebook account is of utmost importance. If you still have questions, keep reading.
Can I find out who logged into my Facebook account?
Unfortunately, these methods will only show you the device type, location, and IP address (if you hover over the login). Unless it is someone you know, you are not likely to find out exactly who is logging into your account.
What if someone took over my account?
If someone unlawfully gained access to your Facebook account and you can no longer log in, the first thing to do is contact Facebook support. If you still have access to the email on the account, do a password reset. Fortunately, we've already covered how to get your Facebook account back, this article should help if you can't log into your account.
What is Facebook's Trusted Contacts feature?
The Trusted Contacts feature allows your friends to help you get back into your account if you get locked out. Facebook will send your friend a verification code for you to use and regain access.
How to Tell if Someone Is on Your Facebook Account
Source: https://www.alphr.com/someone-else-using-facebook-account/