Just recently, I heard on the radio that many Farmville users on Facebook have been victims of identity thieves and hackers. How they do it will remain a mystery to non-IT experts like me. Don’t worry, there is one simple way to protect your Farmville account from these hackers.
A lot of people get too excited when starting with their Facebook account. Many forget to check the privacy setting and end up sharing their entire profile, friends’ list and updates to the entire world. Unless you are someone who is promoting a business and does not share any personal information on Facebook, I would not recommend making your account available to everyone.
If you are thinking of adding neighbors who you do not really know (those that you’ve met in forums or other social networking sites), there is a way to add them to your friends’ list without giving them access to your profile, updates and other account information.
Here’s how:
Step 1: Click on “Friends” on the Top Bar
Step 2: Create a New List
If you are adding strangers to your friends’ list as your Farmville neighbors, you should create a “Farmville” list. Click on every person you want to include in that list. 
Step 3: Change Your Privacy Settings
After creating a “Farmville” list, check your privacy settings and change them as you like. Click on “Settings” on the upper right side of the bar on top. Then choose “Privacy Settings”.
Click on “Profile Information”.
Step 4: Customize
Click on “Custom” then choose “Only Friends” at the top then enter “Farmville” at the bottom. Remember that this will only work if you’ve created a separate list for your Farmville “friends”.
By customizing your account this way, you are making your personal information visible only to your friends except your Farmville friends.
If you follow these steps, you will have full control on who will have access to your Facebook account information. Again, this is an important reminder to those who have added strangers as their friends to make them Farmville neighbors.
Now, you’ve just made life a lot harder for identity thieves and hackers.
