GMAIL STAY SIGNED IN VERIFICATION
You can also sign in on a smartphone using your Google account, which automatically enables it to receive prompts for use as a sign-in and verification option. Those baseline precautions are adequate, but you can tighten security significantly with a couple extra steps.įirst, set up your smartphone as an authentication factor, using an app such as Google Authenticator.
GMAIL STAY SIGNED IN HOW TO
The additional verification typically consists of a code sent as an SMS text message to a trusted device or a prompt sent to a smartphone.Īlso: Better than the best password: How to use 2FA to improve your security Better security When that feature is enabled, you have to supply an additional proof of your identity when you sign in for the first time on a new device or when you perform a high-risk activity, such as paying for an online purchase.
GMAIL STAY SIGNED IN PASSWORD
In addition, you should turn on 2-step verification (Google's term for multi-factor authentication) to protect yourself from phishing and other forms of password theft. That password should be one that's not used by any other account. If you're helping a friend or relative who's technically unsophisticated and intimidated by passwords, this is a good option.Īt a minimum, you should create a strong password for your Google account. This level is sufficient for most ordinary PC users, especially those who don't use their Gmail address as a primary factor for signing in to other sites. If your Gmail account is provided by your employer, check with them about best practices for securing that account.) Baseline security Although some user configuration steps are the same, administrators can set policies that affect security settings. Google's paid business services, including Google Workspace, are managed by domain administrators. (And please note that the steps described in this article are about personal accounts associated with free Gmail addresses.
To help with that balancing act between convenience and security, I've divided the steps into three groups, based on how tightly you want to secure your Google account. If this sounds familiar, it's a mirror of the recommendations I published earlier for Microsoft accounts: "How to lock down your Microsoft account and keep it safe from outside attackers." Although there are similarities between the two companies' security tools, there are also some important differences.Īs with all things security-related, making your online assets safer from outside attack involves trade-offs with convenience. In this post, I list seven steps you can take to help secure your Google account so it's safe from online attacks. Simple steps can make the difference between losing your online accounts or maintaining what is now a precious commodity: Your privacy.Īn online criminal who gets hold of those credentials can cause chaos and do catastrophic damage to your online life, which is why it's important to protect your Google account from being compromised. Cyber security 101: Protect your privacy from hackers, spies, and the government