Facebook has become an essential platform for staying connected with friends, family, and colleagues. Given the personal information shared on Facebook, it’s crucial to ensure your account is secure, especially if you’re logged in on a public or shared computer. Many people forget to log out after using Facebook, which can leave their accounts vulnerable to unauthorized access. Even if your Facebook account is already logged in, you can take steps to secure it, prevent unauthorized access, and protect your privacy.

In this guide, we will walk you through various methods to secure your Facebook account while it's still logged in on this computer, ensuring your data and personal information remain safe.

Why Securing Your Facebook Account Matters

Before diving into the steps to secure your account, it’s important to understand why this process is crucial:

  • Prevent Unauthorized Access: If you're using a shared or public computer, anyone with access to the device could view your private messages, photos, and posts if you remain logged in.
  • Protect Personal Information: Your Facebook account may contain sensitive information such as your contact details, work history, or even credit card information for Facebook ads.
  • Guard Against Phishing and Hacking: By staying logged in, you leave yourself vulnerable to phishing attacks or malicious software that could compromise your account.
  • Control Over Privacy: It’s vital to control who can access your Facebook account to avoid potential misuse of your personal data.

Now, let's look at how you can secure your Facebook account when it's already logged in on your computer.

Step 1: Check Active Sessions and Log Out of Suspicious Devices

One of the easiest ways to secure your Facebook account is by reviewing all active sessions and logging out of any that look suspicious.

Steps to Check Active Sessions:

  1. Open Facebook: While logged into your Facebook account, click the downward arrow in the top-right corner of the page.
  2. Go to Settings: From the dropdown menu, click Settings and Privacy, then select Settings.
  3. Security and Login: On the left-hand side, choose Security and Login.
  4. Where You’re Logged In: This section will show a list of devices where your Facebook account is currently logged in. Review each session carefully.
  5. Log Out of Suspicious Sessions: If you see a session from a device or location you don’t recognize, click the three dots next to that session and select Log Out.

This action immediately terminates that session and ensures that no one else can access your Facebook account from that device.

Step 2: Change Your Password

Changing your password is one of the most effective ways to secure your Facebook account if it’s logged in on this computer or any other device. If you suspect someone else may have access to your account, this step is essential.

How to Change Your Password:

  1. Open Facebook Settings: Click the downward arrow in the top-right corner and go to Settings and Privacy > Settings.
  2. Select Security and Login: From the left menu, click Security and Login.
  3. Change Password: Scroll down to the Login section and click Change Password.
  4. Enter a New Password: Choose a strong password that includes a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using the same password across multiple platforms.
  5. Save Changes: After entering the new password, click Save Changes.

If you're already logged in on this computer, Facebook will allow you to save your new password. This will automatically log you out of other devices where your account may still be active, further securing your account.

Step 3: Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your Facebook account. Even if someone gains access to your password, they won’t be able to log in without the second form of verification, usually a code sent to your phone.

How to Enable Two-Factor Authentication:

  1. Go to Security and Login: From your Facebook account, navigate to Settings and Privacy > Security and Login.
  2. Find Two-Factor Authentication: Under the Two-Factor Authentication section, click Edit.
  3. Set Up Your 2FA: Choose whether you want to receive your two-factor authentication codes via a text message or an authentication app such as Google Authenticator.
  4. Follow the Prompts: Facebook will guide you through the setup process. Once it’s activated, you’ll need to enter a code sent to your phone whenever you log into Facebook from a new device.

Step 4: Adjust Your Privacy Settings

While logged into Facebook, take some time to review and adjust your privacy settings to control who can see your personal information and interact with your posts.

Steps to Adjust Privacy Settings:

  1. Go to Settings: From your Facebook account, click the downward arrow and select Settings and Privacy > Settings.
  2. Choose Privacy: In the left menu, click Privacy.
  3. Adjust Who Can See Your Information: Under the Privacy Settings and Tools section, you can adjust:
    • Who can see your future posts (set it to Friends or Only Me for tighter control).
    • Who can send you friend requests.
    • Who can look you up using your phone number or email address.
    • Whether your profile appears on search engines like Google.

These settings help you control who can view your Facebook content and interact with your account, minimizing the risk of unwanted attention or misuse.

Step 5: Review and Remove Connected Apps

Connected apps can also pose a security risk if you’re not careful. Many users connect third-party apps to their Facebook accounts without considering the permissions they’re granting. These apps may have access to your personal data, posts, and even friends list.

How to Review Connected Apps:

  1. Go to Security Settings: Click Settings and Privacy > Settings > Security and Login.
  2. Choose Apps and Websites: From the left menu, click Apps and Websites.
  3. Review Active Apps: You’ll see a list of all apps connected to your Facebook account. Review each app and consider whether you still need to use it.
  4. Remove Unnecessary Apps: To remove an app, click Remove next to the app name. Removing unused or suspicious apps ensures that no third parties can access your Facebook account data.

Step 6: Secure Your Computer

If your Facebook account is logged in on this computer, it's important to ensure that the computer itself is secure. This can help prevent malicious software from accessing your account.

How to Secure Your Computer:

  1. Update Your Software: Ensure that your operating system, browser, and antivirus software are up to date. Security updates often patch vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.
  2. Use a Strong Password for the Computer: If you’re using a shared computer, make sure your user account is password-protected to prevent others from accessing your session.
  3. Clear Cookies and Cache: If you’ve used a public computer to log into Facebook, clear the cookies and cache from the browser. This will log you out and remove any stored login data.
  4. Install Anti-Malware Software: Use trusted anti-malware software to regularly scan for viruses and malicious programs that could compromise your security.

Step 7: Log Out from All Devices When Finished

After securing your Facebook account on this computer, remember to log out when you’re finished, especially if you’re using a shared or public device.

How to Log Out:

  1. Click the Downward Arrow: In the top-right corner of the Facebook interface, click the arrow.
  2. Select Log Out: From the dropdown menu, select Log Out.

If you’re concerned that your account is still logged in on another device, you can log out remotely using the Security and Login settings.

Conclusion

Securing your Facebook account while it's logged in on this computer is crucial for protecting your personal information and preventing unauthorized access. By following the steps outlined in this guide, such as reviewing active sessions, changing your password, enabling two-factor authentication, and adjusting privacy settings, you can enhance the security of your account and minimize the risk of breaches.

Always remember to log out of your account when you’re done using a shared or public device, and regularly review your account settings to ensure everything remains secure. If you suspect that your account has been compromised, taking quick action can prevent further issues and protect your online presence.