Facebook has now introduced a new feature that notifies users if their accounts have been compromised by unauthorised government officials.
Facebook Chief Security Office Alex Stamos says “while we have always taken steps to secure accounts that we believe to have been compromised, we decided to show this additional warning if we have a strong suspicion that an attack could be government-sponsored”.
“Jay, we believe your Facebook account and your other online accounts may be the target of attacks from state-sponsored actors. Turning on Login Approvals will help keep others from logging into your Facebook account”
– A sample desktop notification to be sent to users if their accounts have been hacked or compromised in anyway.
It should be noted that if a user receives this kind of notification, it does not indicate that Facebook’s own systems have been compromised. Instead it is much more likely that the user’s own devices and systems have been infected with malware. Ideally, these devices and systems should be replaced or rebuilt with safeguards in place.
Alex Stamos adds that such attacks “tend to be more advanced and dangerous than others”, therefore users who have been compromised, should take extra precaution in protecting their accounts. However, Stamos has not gone further to explain how and whether Facebook would be able to distinguish between those accounts compromised by a government official or a more common hacker. The company would “use this warning only in situations where the evidence strongly supports our conclusion”, Stamos says.
It is recommended to turn on Login approvals, in order to avoid any unwanted access. If an account is accessed through a new browser/device, Facebook will send codes to the user’s phone, immediately notifying them.
This is the latest in a troupe of actions Facebook has taken to distance itself from the American government after allegations from Edward Snowden claimed that it was complicit in handing over user data to the NSA.
Source: Facebook
