#17 Gmail - How to protect your account.

Hi ya!

In this blog post, we’re going to be talking about how to protect your Gmail account from hackers and other forces wanting to get into your account.

Let’s get started!

• Make sure that you have a strong password

That one is very important.

If you have a weak password, then a hacker could easily get into your account.

Don’t use things like password, 123dog, 123456, 654321... you get the point.

Use a creative password,  and probably longer than ten characters.

But most importantly - Don’t share your password with anyone!

and, never use your Gmail password for any other account. That gives a potential hacker a greater chance to hack your account.

Here are a few sites where you can check your password strength:

1. Norton - Password generator
2. Microsoft - Password checker
3. How secure is my password

And you could do a quick Google search yourself.

• Enable Two Step Verification

If you use Two Step Verification (2SV), then what you’ll be doing is protecting your account with your password - but also with your phone number.

When you sign into your account (after you’ve enabled 2SV), you’ll not only have to sign in using your password but also a verification code that you’ll get from your phone.

To learn more, follow the links below:

1. Two Step Verification
2. About Two Step Verification

• Recovery Options

Recovery options help secure your account and give you a way to access your account if you forgot your password.

To use the recovery options, follow the steps below:

1. Go here and sign in.
2. Find secure your account and click Get Started.

• Keep your device clean

Probably the best thing for you to do is read this blog post about malware.

• Avoid Scams

If you get an email one day that says something like this:

“Congratulations! You have won $10,000 dollars in the Outlook and Gmail Lottery!

All you have to do is to give us your home location, phone number, and Gmail password and you’re good to go!”

What do you think? Is it legit? Is it a scam?

It’s a scam.

Remember this simple rule: Google never asks for personal information.

See the links below for a follow up.

1. Messages asking for personal information
2. Spam and suspicious emails

• Do as much research as you can

Every day, probably every hour or so, someone is being hacked.

Learn how to protect your account so you won’t be the next one that gets hacked.

You have to constantly be aware and watch out for things.

That’s about all I can give ya.

Stay safe, and good luck.

To summarize:

• Make sure that you have a strong password
• Enable 2 Step Verification
• Use Recovery Options
• Keep your device clean
• Avoid scams
• Research, research, research

References:

• Norton - Password generator
• Microsoft - Password checker
• How secure is my password
• Two Step Verification
• About Two Step Verification
• here
• this blog post
• Messages asking for personal information
• Spam and suspicious emails
• Gmail Security Checklist

For more information, check out the links below:

Google Help Center.

Talk to live Gmail users!

Gmail Forum.

Thanks for reading!

Hope you enjoyed it!

See an improvement on the blog? Post it in the comments!

Have any suggestions for me to blog about? Post that in the comments as well!

Best of Luck,

W.C. Blitzy.