6+ tips and tricks to secure Gmail account from hackers

Cybercrimes have been around since the inception of the internet itself. But with every passing day, hackers & cybercriminals have evolved drastically. They are constantly adapting to the changing Digital Dynamics to steal data from unsuspecting victims.

One prevalent way to steal data is by hacking personal G-mail accounts or G-suite (Business g-mail accounts). We use g-mail for almost everything today. Whether it’s our bank statement, investment details, health information, or business details, we manage everything via our g-mail.

Now imagine if hackers somehow get their hands on your g-mail or g-suite accounts. Even a thought this sends chills down to my nerves! If your gmail account is hacked, you risk exposing sensitive personal and business information, and recovering from such a breach can be difficult and time-consuming.

So whether it’s your g-mail account or G-suite account, it’s vital to ensure maximum safety. Focusing on google account security is essential to protect your google account from hackers, as it helps prevent unauthorized access and keeps your data safe.

In this detailed guide, I have explained everything from How to secure your g-mail account to how you can avoid being conned by hackers.

So, without wasting much time, let’s dive in. Securing your Gmail account is crucial as it’s often the central point of your online identity – if you lose access, it can impact many other services you rely on.

How to secure Gmail account from hackers?

Gmail security is more important than ever in today’s digital world. With millions of users relying on Gmail for everything from personal conversations to sensitive business communications, your Gmail account is a prime target for hackers.

That’s why it’s crucial to take your security settings seriously and make use of all the tools Google provides to protect your personal info and sensitive information.

By regularly updating your Gmail security settings, using a strong password, and enabling two factor authentication, you can create a strong defense against potential threats. Don’t forget to keep an eye on your account activity for any unusual sign-ins or suspicious activity.

These security tips are essential for every user who wants to keep their Gmail account secure and avoid being hacked. Remember, your Gmail security is only as strong as the steps you take to protect it, so stay proactive and safeguard your account.

Activate 2-factor authentication

To protect G-mail accounts against brute-force attacks by hackers, Google introduced this simple yet robust security feature.

Under this 2-step login process, first, you will have to enter your g-mail password. Google offers multiple types of 2FA. Two-step verification and multi-factor authentication are essential security measures for your Gmail account.

Google offers multiple secondary verification options for two-factor authentication, including authenticator apps, Google Authenticator, backup codes, and security keys.

Following are the two most popular one

Google Prompts:

When you activate this option, you’ll receive a Google Prompt on your registered device(which can be a phone or tablet) after entering your Password. Once you click it, you’ll be logged in.

So unless the hacker has access to both your password & your phone, it is impossible to hack your account.

Text Message:

This is by far the most simple & popular way. With this feature, you can enjoy double-layered security. First, when you enter your Password, Google will send a verification code on your phone. Then, you’re able to log in only when you do.

Create a Strong & Long password

How hard can this be to understand? But still, people make terrible mistakes while setting their passwords. For e.g., “123456” is the most common Password across the globe! Now imagine how stupid this is!

I hope you don’t have such simple & common passwords, and if you do, I’ll strongly advise against sharing them ASAP. To truly protect your Gmail account, always use a secure password and make sure it is a unique password for each account, especially your Gmail password. Using the same password for multiple accounts puts all your accounts at risk.

Take the following steps to ensure you have a strong password:

• Keep it Lengthy: Having just a complex password is not enough; your Password has to be lengthy too. Research suggests that long passwords are comparatively more difficult to breach. That’s the reason you will always find it mandatory to have at least 8 characters long Password.
• Use a random combination of characters: A strong password is a random combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols, and it should be unique to each account.
• Never reuse passwords across multiple accounts: Using the same password for multiple accounts increases your risk if one account is compromised. Always use unique passwords for all your accounts.
• Use a password manager: Consider using a password manager to create and securely store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts.
• Regularly change your passwords: Make it a habit to update your passwords periodically to maintain account security.
• Don’t overdo Password reset: We have a lot of online accounts nowadays. So creating complex passwords every now & then & remembering them is not possible. Instead, I recommend creating a super-strong password & keeping going with it.
• Avoid Password Hints: When we create Hints to unlock your passwords, we use information somehow related to our personal life. But as we are socially too much exposed in the Digital World, this makes it easy for hackers to guess the answers. So avoid password hints.
• Have a reliable recovery plan: People often overlook this critical step while setting their g-mail account. Imagine a hacker is locking you out of your g-mail account. Don’t you think you need a solid account recovery plan?

This also helps when you have forgotten your Password or lost your device.

So I strongly recommend activating email recovery, as well as phone recovery.

You can activate both these options by following these simple steps:

• Navigate to “Personal Info” on your Google account
• Click on the “Add a Recovery Phone” on the “Contact Info” tab
• Click on the “Add a Recovery Email” on the “Contact Info” tab

Utilize Google’s security checkups:

Google has this awesome functionality that helps you secure your account. Navigate to the “Security Checkup” & Click on it. The Security Checkup tool allows users to review recent logins and strengthen the security of their Google account settings. You can access these controls via your Google account settings.

Here, there are multiple action recommendations from Google to help you secure your account. Regularly review account activity and app access through Google’s Security Checkup tool to enhance your Google account security.

In the “Your Device” section, you can see all the devices where your g-mail account is logged in. Users can check all trusted devices that have access to their Gmail account through the Security Checkup tool. If you are not actively using some device, you can directly remove that device from here. By doing so, you will be logged out of those inactive devices.

Under the “Your saved Passwords” section, Google lets you know whether your saved Password appeared on some data breach. You can directly change that particular Password from here only.

In the “third Party access” tab, you can see all the apps that have access to your g-mail account & relevant information. If you find any of these apps skeptical, I recommend removing them ASAP. Regularly auditing your browser extensions and apps can also enhance your Gmail security.

Get educated about “Phishing Attacks.”

“Phishing Attack” is a term used for cyber frauds where the victim receives an email, supposedly from the website, which the victim is regularly using. But, instead of being genuine, such emails are created & shared by hackers.

Phishing emails often use fake login pages to trick users into entering their credentials. These phishing attempts typically involve emails or messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as Google or a bank, but are actually designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information.

Gmail has several built-in security features that can help protect against phishing and suspicious activity.

These emails demand personal information, citing some technical & complex reasons. If the victim is unaware of such attacks, he/she makes the mistake of sharing personal details, leading to a data breach.

So you must educate yourself about “Phishing Attacks.” Remember, no genuine website or service provider will ask for your personal information. Also, avoid visiting the links in suspicious emails.

Always visit the genuine website via browser. Here too, look for an “https” in the address bar to signify a secured & genuine website.

Advanced Protection

For users who need the highest level of Gmail security, Google offers the Advanced Protection Program. This program is designed for individuals at increased risk of targeted attacks, such as journalists, business leaders, and activists, but anyone can enroll for extra peace of mind.

Advanced Protection adds an extra layer of security to your Google account by requiring a physical security key for sign-in, making it nearly impossible for hackers to gain access, even if they have your password.

With Advanced Protection, Google automatically blocks most forms of third party app access to your account, reducing the risk of unauthorized apps accessing your sensitive information. The program also closely monitors for suspicious activity and will alert you if anything unusual is detected.

By enrolling in the Advanced Protection Program, you can take your Gmail security to the next level and ensure your data, emails, and personal info are protected from even the most determined hackers.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Keeping your Gmail account secure isn’t a one-time task, it requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance. Make it a habit to regularly review your account activity for any unfamiliar logins or suspicious messages.

Google’s Security Checkup tool is a great resource that provides personalized recommendations to strengthen your account security and highlights any potential vulnerabilities.

Using a password manager can help you generate and store unique, strong passwords for all your accounts, reducing the risk of using the same password across multiple sites. Stay alert for suspicious messages in your inbox, and always be cautious before clicking on links or downloading attachments.

By staying proactive with your security settings and regularly checking your account activity, you can quickly spot and address any issues before they become serious threats, keeping your Gmail account and sensitive information safe.

Browser and App Security

Your choice of browser and the apps you use play a big role in protecting your Gmail account. Always use a secure browser like Google Chrome and keep your operating system updated to guard against the latest security threats.

Be selective about which apps you install, only download from trusted sources, and review app permissions carefully before granting access to your Google account.

Tools like Google Play Protect can help scan your Android devices for malware and other potential threats, adding another layer of security. Avoid installing browser extensions or apps from unknown sources, as these can sometimes be used by hackers to gain access to your Gmail account.

By prioritizing browser and app security, you can significantly reduce the risk of your account being compromised and keep your data safe from hackers.

Footnote

Hackers have become far more advanced than they were a decade ago. They have accustomed them to the changing security environment & so they are becoming more ruthless.

So whether you are using Gmail for business or personal use, it is a must follow the steps mentioned above if you are thinking about how to secure your Gmail account.

Apart from these steps, you must stay vigilant.

Here are some additional tips to stay and keep your g-mail account safe:

• Don’t fall for offers that sound “too good to be true.”
• Don’t share too much of your personal information on your Social Media handles.
• Keep checking your account activities for anything suspicious.
• Don’t download apps from unreliable sources.
• Don’t give permissions to suspicious apps.
• Use trusted & updated Browsers.
• Remove access from suspicious accounts.
• Set up recovery options, such as a recovery email address and phone number, to make it easier to regain access if you are ever locked out of your account.
• Use backup codes as a backup method for account recovery in case your primary two-factor authentication method is unavailable. Store these codes securely, such as in a password manager.
• Regularly review third-party app access to your Gmail account and revoke permissions for apps you no longer use or trust.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi to access Gmail; if you must, use a VPN to encrypt your traffic and protect your account from potential attacks.
• Google may use a red, yellow, or blue exclamation point icon to recommend immediate action for your Google Account, pay attention to these alerts.
• Google services and products, like Gmail and Google Account privacy tools, provide privacy controls and security features to help protect your account. Use features like Privacy Check-up and Confidential Mode.
• Manage your incoming emails carefully, be cautious with third party apps, and review other accounts connected to your Gmail to prevent unauthorized access.
• Transition away from deprecated features like third-party POP email support in Gmail for better security.
• Regularly audit your browser extensions and apps to enhance your Gmail security and reduce vulnerabilities.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Securing your Gmail account is essential for protecting your online identity and sensitive information. By following best practices – like using a strong password, enabling two factor authentication, and regularly monitoring your account activity – you can greatly reduce the risk of your Gmail account being hacked.

For those who want even more protection, enrolling in Google’s Advanced Protection Program and using a security key adds an extra layer of defense.

Always be cautious with messages from unknown sources, and never share your password or sensitive information in response to unsolicited emails.

Stay vigilant, keep your security settings up to date, and use these security tips to protect your Gmail account from hackers and cyberattacks. By making Gmail security a priority, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your account and personal info are safe.

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