Most of us use Gmail for almost all of our email and online correspondence. With such heavy reliance on Gmail, shouldn’t it be a priority to keep our Gmail accounts safe and secure? After all, it has an abundance of information that, if the wrong people get a hold of, could lead to something as minor as a hacked Netflix account or something as major as identity theft.
Gmail carries personal details, password reset links, and a host of other sensitive information. You can’t just pray to the internet gods that your Gmail account won’t get hacked. There are concrete steps to take to secure your Gmail account. Secure your Gmail account right now. It won’t take you too long but will give you peace of mind.
Password strength
Is your password “123456”? If so, you better change your password, right this very moment. That generic password makes its way to number one on the most commonly used, and consequently most hackable passwords in the world. CNN reveals the top 3 most common passwords were:
- 123456
- 123456789
- qwerty
The top ten list is listed here. Using weak passwords leaves you vulnerable to hackers. It’s also a really bad idea to reuse passwords. So, use hard to guess passwords so that your Gmail account won’t get hacked. If you are badly uncreative at making passwords or notoriously forgetful, try using a password manager.
2-step verification
Two-factor authentication will make it extremely difficult for hackers to access your account. It involves getting a randomly generated six-digit passcode sent to your phone. So unless hackers have your password AND physical access to your phone, they can’t hack your account.
Backup
Double-check that your recovery information is up-to-date. Check each section: recovery phone, recovery email, and security question and update them with current information. If you don’t update this, you will have a hard time logging back in if you get locked out of your account. The same security applies to you so, keep your recovery information updated.
You can also use the authenticator app. Go to “Set Up” under the “Authenticator app section” and then select the type of phone you use.
Account activity
From time to time, Gmail sends you an email asking you to check your account activity. Please take that seriously and check the details. Read it carefully and make sure the account activity is yours. If you don’t recognize the activity, “sign out of all other Gmail web sessions” and then promptly change your password.
With the global pandemic forcing everyone into lockdown, more and more people rely on making online transactions versus cash payments. Now more than ever, it is important to keep your Gmail and online accounts secure to keep your online identity and accounts safe.
Do you have any expert tips on how to secure your online accounts? Let us know in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!
Written by Jaie O. TheHelp