Following a series of hackings at some high-profile websites recently, Facebook (News - Alert) has announced that it is stepping up its own security offerings by instituting a new set of security functions geared toward keeping mobile users' Facebook experiences secure.
The new security measures Facebook launched feature a new login code generator on Android (News - Alert) devices that allow for two-step authentication processes, especially useful when gaining access on public Wi-Fi systems. It also makes confirming logins easier when making them on new devices, which was a problem for users who had a tough time getting SMS messages, or just had poor reception. The code generator system allows for Login Approval codes to come directly to the Facebook Application itself, as opposed to the current methods, though users will need to set up the Code Generator system on their mobile devices prior to use.
The other security measure Facebook introduced is a set of new password recovery tools, as well as spam-flagging tools, making marking spam posts in their news feeds now as simple as clicking the comment link and selecting either "report / mark as spam" or "hide story" to remove the offending item.
Facebook's augmented mobile security comes at a time when hackings are firing up once more. In recent days, fairly major sites like business networking giant LinkedIn (News - Alert), dating site eHarmony, and radio site Last.fm all were hacked, prompting users to more closely reconsider their own security measures. Further considering that the bulk of Facebook's users are now mobile users--about 500 million out of the 900 million total--it makes sense for Facebook's newest security measures to focus on their mobile users.
The updates come at a time when not only are hackings on the rise, but also when Facebook itself is experiencing some significant public perception problems. A recent IPO left some users deeply disturbed, and new polls have emerged suggesting that more users are finding their time on Facebook a lot less fulfilling, and a lot less relevant, than they ever did. Putting some extra bite in their security protocols gives users a better feeling of security, and increases the chances of them sticking around. Considering Facebook's recent troubles in keeping advertisers around, Facebook needs to keep its users around to ensure some kind of cash flow from those advertisers who do stay.
Keeping users on Facebook will likely be a tall order in the face of the problems it's currently facing, but it's plain that Facebook will do its level best to keep users in, and involved, for as long as possible.