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User AccessMedium priority

About 15 minutes to complete

Turn on login alerts for your social accounts

Enable notifications for new logins on your Facebook, Instagram, X, and other social media accounts. You will be alerted immediately if someone accesses your account from an unrecognised device.

Why this matters

Login alerts notify you immediately when your account is accessed from a new device or location — giving you minutes or hours to lock down your account before an attacker can cause damage. Without alerts, account compromises often go undetected for days or weeks.

How to do it

  1. Go to the Security settings on each social media platform you use.
  2. On Facebook: Settings → Security and Login → Get alerts about unrecognised logins. Enable both email and push notification alerts.
  3. On Instagram: Settings → Security → Login Activity. Enable login request alerts.
  4. On X (Twitter): Settings → Security and account access → Security → Two-factor authentication. Also enable 'Security challenges when suspicious activity is detected.'
  5. On LinkedIn: Settings → Sign in & security → Where you're signed in. Review active sessions and enable email alerts for unusual sign-ins.

Need a more detailed walkthrough?

Our step-by-step guide explains each action in full detail, with confirmation steps and related tasks.

View full step-by-step guide →

Cyber Essentials framework

This task falls under the User Accesscontrol, one of five areas assessed in the UK's Cyber Essentials scheme. Completing it counts toward your Cyber Essentials alignment. Create a free account to track your progress across all five areas.

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