How do I keep my Gmail account secure?
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Ekaterina Gubchik, Google Product Specialist
This question is asked by many of our users. It's no secret that in the online world you need to be very vigilant so as not to fall for the scammers. In addition to choosing a strong password, there are many more ways to ensure account security, which I want to share with you.
1. Do not forget that you need to sign out. Especially when using computers in public places. To do this, simply click on the "Logout" link in the upper right corner of your mailbox. If you use a computer at work and want to have additional security guarantees, you can also clean it.browser cache and cookies. Then, completely close the browser. You can also lock your personal computer for a short time if you leave it for a short time using a password-protected screen saver. You can learn the best ways to lock your screen on Windows or Mac OS here.
What to do if you forgot to log out? Log in to your Gmail account from another computer and end all other sessions using the " Recent Account Actions " feature .
2. Be careful when sending confidential information by email. After sending the email, you no longer have complete control over the information sent. Recipients, if they so wish, can email your message to anyone or post this content in a public forum. Even if you trust people with whom you correspond, keep in mind that this information may become available to fraudsters if your friend’s account is hacked. If you need to provide a credit card number or account number in response to a message, make it a rule to do this by phone or in person.
Never share your password with anyone! Google will never ask you to send a password, passport number, or any other personal information, so never reply to emails asking for such information, no matter what tricks scammers are trying to lure you into.
3. Turn on Always Use HTTPS . Every time you visit a web page, your computer must send and receive information.
through the Internet. HTTPS is used to encrypt data while transferring it between computers on the Internet. Pay attention to the beginning of the URL when you log in to your account. Usually we use https (secure connection) only when logging into Gmail, but you can choose to use a secure connection constantly. HTTPS can make your mail slower, so we give you the choice.
4. Be careful with unexpected files in applications. To protect you from viruses and malware, Gmail automatically scansall applications when they come to you, and again every time you open a message. Attachments you send are also scanned. However, no system is invulnerable. So if you receive a letter with an application that you did not expect, then before opening it, check with the sender what it is.
5. Verify that the information required to reset your password is correct. This information will help you regain access to your account if you forget your password, or if someone gains access to your account without your permission. We currently offer several ways to recover your account. Each Gmail user must choose a security question and answer. You need to choose an easy to remember, but hard to guess combination. Do not choose a question such as “What is my favorite color?” As others can
easily guess the answer. We also encourage you to add an alternate email address and / or mobile phone number so that we can send you a password reset link if you lose access to your account.
For more tips on securing your Google Account, visit our help center .
This question is asked by many of our users. It's no secret that in the online world you need to be very vigilant so as not to fall for the scammers. In addition to choosing a strong password, there are many more ways to ensure account security, which I want to share with you.
1. Do not forget that you need to sign out. Especially when using computers in public places. To do this, simply click on the "Logout" link in the upper right corner of your mailbox. If you use a computer at work and want to have additional security guarantees, you can also clean it.browser cache and cookies. Then, completely close the browser. You can also lock your personal computer for a short time if you leave it for a short time using a password-protected screen saver. You can learn the best ways to lock your screen on Windows or Mac OS here.
What to do if you forgot to log out? Log in to your Gmail account from another computer and end all other sessions using the " Recent Account Actions " feature .
2. Be careful when sending confidential information by email. After sending the email, you no longer have complete control over the information sent. Recipients, if they so wish, can email your message to anyone or post this content in a public forum. Even if you trust people with whom you correspond, keep in mind that this information may become available to fraudsters if your friend’s account is hacked. If you need to provide a credit card number or account number in response to a message, make it a rule to do this by phone or in person.
Never share your password with anyone! Google will never ask you to send a password, passport number, or any other personal information, so never reply to emails asking for such information, no matter what tricks scammers are trying to lure you into.
3. Turn on Always Use HTTPS . Every time you visit a web page, your computer must send and receive information.
through the Internet. HTTPS is used to encrypt data while transferring it between computers on the Internet. Pay attention to the beginning of the URL when you log in to your account. Usually we use https (secure connection) only when logging into Gmail, but you can choose to use a secure connection constantly. HTTPS can make your mail slower, so we give you the choice.
4. Be careful with unexpected files in applications. To protect you from viruses and malware, Gmail automatically scansall applications when they come to you, and again every time you open a message. Attachments you send are also scanned. However, no system is invulnerable. So if you receive a letter with an application that you did not expect, then before opening it, check with the sender what it is.
5. Verify that the information required to reset your password is correct. This information will help you regain access to your account if you forget your password, or if someone gains access to your account without your permission. We currently offer several ways to recover your account. Each Gmail user must choose a security question and answer. You need to choose an easy to remember, but hard to guess combination. Do not choose a question such as “What is my favorite color?” As others can
easily guess the answer. We also encourage you to add an alternate email address and / or mobile phone number so that we can send you a password reset link if you lose access to your account.
For more tips on securing your Google Account, visit our help center .