Get Facebook alerts when someone uses your account from an unknown computer

Facebook has added a new security feature that will send you an email or SMS when someone logs in to your account from a computer that Facebook doesn't recognize. It takes a little bit of work to set up, but it could be a very clever line of defense against Facebook hackers or "friends" who might have gotten your password somehow.

To turn this feature on, go to Account Settings and find Account Security near the bottom. Click "change," and set this option to "yes." To register your machines, you'll need to log out and log back in. Doing so should bring up the registration prompt, where you'll name your machine and get a cookie from Facebook that will let it recognize your computer as yours in the future.

This is a cool feature, but -- shocker! -- it requires giving Facebook even more information about you than you already do. In the midst of a massive privacy debacle, even a measure that's meant to protect you on Facebook might end up provoking the ire of Facebook haters. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out, but I'll be excited to see the first report of a hacker actually being caught by this alert option.

[via Mashable]

Tags: alerts, facebook, hackers, password, privacy, security, sms