No, accepting a friend request on Facebook won't let somebody hack your computer
A hoax making the rounds claims that accepting a friend request from a certain person can give them access to hack your computer. This isn't true.
INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - It's always a good idea to know who your Facebook friends are. You probably have lots of personal information on your page that you wouldn't want strangers to know.
That being said, even if you do accept a friend request from somebody you don't know, they can't hack into your page or give you a virus, as a hoax that's making the rounds claims.
Hoaxes like these are fairly common. In this newest instance, people are sharing a post that says you shouldn't accept a friend request from someone named "Jayden K. Smith." The posts say that if you do accept the request, the person behind the account can use your Facebook friendship to hack your computer and all of your online accounts. This isn't true.
Some variations of the warning claim that if one person accepts the friend request, everybody on that person's friends list is susceptible. That's also false.
However, this is a good time to remind you of best practices on your Facebook page:
- Clicking any link on the internet that you aren't familiar with can potentially do damage to your computer or make you vulnerable to hacking. That is true of Facebook, too. If you accept a friend request from a stranger and they send you a link that you don't recognize, use caution.
- It's good to be aware of your Facebook security settings. Make sure you know who can see what you post.
- Be careful about what you post! Sharing sensitive information can make you vulnerable.
