Facebook Wants Your Phone Number for Security Purposes
Facebook is trying to avoid a security meltdown. And they want your personal phone number to aide the process.
Some users may have already brushed off the notice at the top of their desktop news feed telling them to “Stay in control of your account by following these simple security tips.” But those who click the link are brought to the Facebook Security Tips page, which includes details about how to spot a scam, choose a unique password, and confirm a mobile number.
“This is a security measure to help ensure that Facebook remains a community of people using their real identities to connect and share,” the social network site said.
If Facebook were to be hacked, or an individual’s account was stolen, the company would wipe users’ passwords immediately and send new ones via SMS, without having to rely on emails asking users to change their own passwords, according to TechCrunch.
TechCrunch pointed to a recent Cloudmark blog post, which said that social network emails often get overlooked as spam by users.
The Facebook notices come shortly after password leaks at eHarmony, Last.fm, and LinkedIn. The social network giant told TechCrunch that its security plan was in place before those incidents, but said the hacks could serve as incentive for users to hand over their phone numbers.
According to Cloudmark, more than 4 percent of people who received a real LinkedIn message about the compromised passwords regarded it as junk.
Facebook did not immediately respond to request for comment.
TechCrunch said the Facebook message will roll out to all desktop users over the next few days.
For more from Stephanie, follow her on Twitter @smlotPCMag.
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