Facebook to roll out new security features next year, ‘Facebook Protect’

Social Media giant Facebook Inc said it would start allowing users to set up physical security keys as a way to verify their identity before logging into the social network’s mobile app, beginning next year, on Tuesday, Mint reported.

The current security plan includes an option to require a hardware security key to connect to a desktop computer before each log-in.

Confirming an earlier report by news website Axios, the company said, “Users could purchase a hardware key from retailers, and register it with Facebook.”

The social network also said it has plans to expand Facebook Protect -its security program for high-profile accounts including election candidates – to more types of accounts globally next year.

Facebook Protect offers a way for politicians, government agencies and election staff to set up additional security provisions such as two-factor authentication and real-time monitoring for potential hacking threats.

It will now be available to users like journalists and human rights activists who are at a higher risk of being targeted by sophisticated hackers, Facebook added.

The rollout of new security services are in play as a similar social networking site, Twitter Inc was hack compromising various celebrity accounts, including those of President-elect Joe Biden and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.