![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.kasperskydaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/92\/2018\/04\/20084806\/fb_congrats_animation.jpg\")
<\/a>You didn\u2019t win anything; the animation is automatic<\/p><\/div>\n
Recently, with the topic of personal data security more popular than ever among Facebook users, a rumor buzzed around about how users could perform a very easy check on their Facebook security. The rumor was that typing the letters \u201cBFF\u201d into a post or comment would get you an automatic security check. If the letters turned green, rumor had it, that meant you were fine.<\/p>\n
<\/a>One of the many BFF-related posts on Facebook<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n Even if you could run a security check by posting something on Facebook, why in the world would Facebook choose \u201cBFF\u201d as the command?<\/p>\n There are a couple of good reasons not to believe such hype.<\/p>\n First, as we\u2019ve warned in the past, some nefarious Facebook data collection schemes rely on people\u2019s willingness to post personal information \u2014 see any quiz that ultimately reveals your birthdate or pet\u2019s name. Avoiding that sort of post should be a no-brainer. Second, BFF isn\u2019t a secret word; it\u2019s a common abbreviation for \u201cbest friends forever\u201d that has nothing whatsoever to do with security.<\/p>\n Finally, we honestly can\u2019t imagine the point. Type \u201cBFF\u201d and you may not have given up any information, but you\u2019ve outed yourself to your actual BFFs as a total sucker.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the wake of growing user discontent, and particularly following the Cambridge Analytica uproar, Facebook has boosted its privacy<\/a> and security<\/a> measures, but you will need to take a few minutes to review yours. Also, take advantage of Facebook\u2019s offers to reveal what data of yours the game du jour scooped up, and any other help it suggests on that front.<\/p>\n For future security on Facebook and other social media, we offer the following tips.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s a hoax<\/h3>\n
\n<\/em>Think about it \u2014 the idea is pretty ridiculous. But the Cambridge Analytica scandal had some users taking the drastic measure of deleting<\/a> their accounts entirely; a three-letter security check must have seemed much more tempting. The truth is, until those rumors gained attention, causing Facebook to remove \u201cBFF\u201d as an activator, typing it into a post or comment would actually result in the letters turning green and trigger an animation of two hands high-fiving.<\/p>\nPractice safe posting<\/h3>\n