Facebook bolsters mobile security

18 min.

Suzanne Choney

Facebook said Thursday it's adding some security?updates for the "nearly half-billion" mobile users of the social network.?

Mobile is a growing area of importance?to the site, as more and more users check Facebook using their phones,?and not just from?their computers. It's also an area Facebook needs to make some money in, and is trying to figure out how to do that with mobile advertising.

Here are the changes, as outlined on the site's?blog:

Code Generator is an addition to Facebook's Login Approvals feature, "aimed at?making it easier to confirm logins made?on new devices."

"Before, if you had any?difficulties receiving SMS or had poor?cellular service, it was often tough to use?Login Approvals easily," Facebook says on the blog. "Now, using Code?Generator, users will be able to receive?Login Approval codes through your?Facebook Application, without waiting?on an SMS, and it will work regardless?of whether you have cellular or Internet?access."

If you've got an Android phone, you'll need to go to this site?and follow the instructions there to get Code Generator.

Reporting unwanted content. On a computer, you can hide or report stories in your News Feed that ?rather not see. Now you can do it on mobile if you are using Facebook's mobile site?on a touch-enabled device.

All you have to do, Facebook says, is click on the Feedback icon for the posting or the "comment" link, click the icon in the upper right-hand corner and select an option.

Locking down your account.?In 2009,?Facebook added a computer-based?tool to help users if they thought their account had been compromised. Now, there are "checkpoints" that you can monitor from your phone.

"Did someone add an unwanted email to your account? Now you can lock down your account and clean up any damage done using your phone," Facebook says. "Did a hacker login from?across the globe? You can review that login and reset your password on your phone. We've even extended our social authentication tool to work on your phone to give you even more?ways to get back into your account."

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