Privacy issues are one of the most sensitive areas, when it comes to both real, physical world and in the case of virtual world. Hacker intrusions on the popular Google’s user accounts webmail service are becoming more and more frequent. If you follow these tips, you will make the hackers’ job more difficult and your information’s safer.
Everything you need to protect yourself can be found in your Gmail settings, or by clicking the username in the upper right corner of any page in Gmail and select Account.
Password protection
Carefully choose a password and do not share it with anyone. If you need to change your password, what is a good option to do every 2-3 months, open the Account Settings and click on the tab Security. Settings for password are placed at the top.
Make sure that the option to reset and restore of the data are also safe – in the same bar look for Recovery & Alerts. If Google already has your phone number and / or an alternate e-mail address, this is the place where they will be listed.
If you haven’t given a phone number and / or alternate e-mail to Google, add them to gain access to your account in case you forget your password, but also for the case that Google detects any suspicious activity., you can choose Alert type by clicking on the Edit option.
Set the verification
The verification option is available on the Account Settings page, under Security tab, immediately under the option Change password.
To activate it, you will need to provide a phone number that will be checked by a code that you receive by SMS or automated voice message. Click Setup and follow the instructions.
In some parts of the world, this option is not available. You can bypass it by using the service to send free text messages to the default setting and then move on to the application Authenticator.
When you sign in to a device for the first time, Google will offer to place it in the list of devices that you trust, which means that you will no longer need to log in. If you sign in with unsafe devices, uncheck the box that identifies him as the safe.
Google has recently introduced the Security Key, which you can plug in a USB input and use it instead of an SMS or an application for verification. The Security Key works only in Chrome.
Check your settings
At the bottom of each page are available data about recent activity in your account. Click on the Details to see the last ten logins, the IP address from which were carried out and an assessment of where the country is the IP address and that you have accessed your account with your browser or mobile device, and other information.
Check them periodically. Look for logins with unexpected location or address. This is the first place you check if you suspect that someone has hacked into your account. If you think that is the case, make sure intruders did not tampered with anything.
Click the icon Settings on the main page of Gmail. Click on the option Accounts and Import and look the part under Grant access to your account. If you find accounts that you did not add, delete them and change your password.