How to Make Your Gmail Account Safe

You can never be too careful when it comes to online security. There are just so many dangers out there that it’s essential to take all the necessary precautions.

One of the things that should be safer than Fort Know is your Gmail email. You surely get emails with critical information that you wouldn’t want falling into the wrong hands. With the following tips, you’ll help your Gmail account safe.

Strong Password

You’ve heard it thousands of times that you should never use the same password for your all or the majority of your accounts. It’s also not a good idea that your passwords are so easy to remember, either. For example, using your dog’s name as a password is not a good idea.

But you may avoid a strong password because you don’t want to go through all the hassle of entering all those special characters, letters, and numbers.

In that case, try a password manager with a good reputation such as LastPass or NordPass, and you’ll see how you can have a long and strong password for each and every one of your accounts. Password managers have password generators that will create a strong password for you.

To change your password, click on your profile picture and click on Manage Your Google Account. Go to Privacy and personalization.

Click on the Security tab, followed by the password option. You’ll need to sign in again, and after that, you can set up your new password.

As long as your in the Security tab, it’s also a good idea to enable two-step verification. Click on the option and follow the on-screen instructions.

Have a Recovery email and Phone Number

It’s always best to prepare for the worst, and by setting up a recovery email and phone number, you’ll avoid being locked out of your Gmail account. To update or create a recovery email and phone number go to:

1. myaccount.google.com/security
2. Go to Ways that we can verify that it’s you
3. Click on Recovery phone
4. Sign in again
5. Update or add a phone number
6. Once you’re done repeat for recovery email

Check Your Account Permissions

The next security check will not only help keep your Gmail account safe but your account in general. You may have signed into apps using your Gmail and then forgot about them.

To deny access to any apps, you’re not using anymore, go to:

1. myaccount.google.com/security
2. Click on Manage third-party access
3. Click on the app whose access you want to remove
4. Select the Blue Remove Access button
5. Repeat for all apps whose access you want to remove

Conclusion

As long as you’re in the My Account section, you should also try out Google’s Security Checkup. Click on the Get started option, and it will check your account for things such as connected devices, recent security events, how many sign-in recovery methods you have, what third party apps have access, and your Gmail settings. Do you think you’ll give it a try?