How to keep your Google account secure

The amount of personal information circulating online is increasing and security has become a major concern across various platforms.

It is important for users to take advantage of security solutions such as password managers and two-factor authentication in order to keep their private information safe.

Google Support offers several tips for users to help them keep their Google Account safe, as detailed below.

Password and Recovery

The first step in keeping your account secure is creating a strong password.

If you haven’t changed your password in a while, now might be a good time to update your security with a strong string of letters and numbers.

Google passwords cannot be shorter than 8 characters and should contain at least upper and lower case letters and numbers.

Google also presents users with a password strength indicator, which gives users an indication of whether their password is “strong” or “weak”.

Also check that your recovery options are up to date and secure, as it is the only way to recover your account if you lose your password.

Two-factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication adds a layer of security to your account and Google’s Two-Step Verification allows you to strengthen your defences while remaining non-invasive and lightweight.

When a users wants to sign in, a code will be sent to their phone via text, voice call, or Google’s mobile app. “Or, if you have a Security Key, you can insert it into your computer’s USB port,” states Google.

To enable Two-Step Verification, head to the Two-Step Verification page under My Account and follow the instructions.

Make sure to add backup phone numbers where applicable and confirm that your recovery email address is correct.

Checkup and Update

Google’s Security Checkup page allows you to quickly update your security information.

This provides an overview of your security options and lets you add trusted devices and change your two-factor authentication settings.

Finally, it is best to keep all your devices up to date with the latest operating system version, Internet browser version, and security patches in order to prevent vulnerabilities.

This article first appeared on MyBroadband and is republished with permission.

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