In this digital age, it is extremely important to take every precaution when it comes to your personal information. After all, you probably have a lot of sensitive information stored in your email account. In fact, many people keep their bank account details and other personal information in their email to make it easier to access when needed. But what happens if someone hacks into your account? If you don’t take the right steps, they could wreak havoc on your finances or even steal your identity! Thankfully, there are many simple measures that you can take to ensure that an unauthorised user cannot access your email account. Here are top 10 ways you can secure your email account today:
Change your password regularly
One of the easiest ways to protect your email account is to regularly change your password. Many people make the mistake of using the same password for years, but this is extremely risky. If a hacker were to get a hold of your password, they could gain access to your account and wreak havoc on your finances. Fortunately, there are many tools that make it easy to create strong passwords, such as LastPass or 1Password. To ensure maximum security, you should also change your password every time there is a breach that affects your account, such as a data breach on a website that you use.
Install a password manager
If you don’t have a password manager installed on your computer, it’s time to get one. Password managers allow you to create strong, unique passwords for each of your online accounts. They will also automatically log you into websites and help you generate strong passwords. Normally, people recommend using a password manager to store your website login information so that you don’t have to remember it. This way, even if someone were to get a hold of your computer, they wouldn’t be able to access your account. There are many free and paid password managers available. You should definitely use a password manager to protect your email account.
Don’t use the same password for your email account
As you’re changing your password regularly, don’t make the mistake of using the same password for all of your accounts. Instead, use a unique password for each online account. You probably have many online accounts, such as social media, email, online banking, and more. That means you will have many passwords to remember, which can make the process of logging into your accounts more difficult. Fortunately, there are tools that can help you manage your passwords and even auto-fill your login information to make it easier for you to log into your accounts. If you use the same password for all of your online accounts, including email, you are setting yourself up for disaster. Hackers can easily gain access to other sensitive information, such as your social media accounts, with one simple hack.
Beware of phishing emails
Phishing emails are designed to look legitimate so that you will click the link or open the attachment. These emails try to trick you into giving away sensitive information, such as passwords, bank account details, and social media logins. There are many types of phishing emails, so you should be wary of any email that asks you to go to a website and login or divulge sensitive information. Make sure to check website URLs to make sure they are legitimate. You can also report suspicious phishing emails to your internet service provider or to the government. If a hacker were to get a hold of your sensitive information through a phishing email, they could log into your email account and wreak havoc. They might also try to trick the people in your address book into opening the malicious attachment.
Use two-step authentication
Two-step authentication is a form of login security that requires an additional login step to access your account. The most common form of two-step authentication is an authentication app where you enter a passcode. However, there are many other forms of two-step authentication available. Some websites that have two-step authentication will prompt you to choose the login method. Two-step authentication is a common security measure that is used by many websites, including email providers. It’s a great way to protect your email account from hackers.
Avoid free email services
Some free email services are notorious for collecting your data and selling it to third parties. Although these websites also provide a free email account, you should definitely not use them. Instead, pay for an email service, such as Gmail or Outlook. Paid email accounts are less likely to collect your data, and they will also provide better support and security. Even if you decide to use a free email service, make sure that you don’t give them your sensitive information. Avoid signing up for an account if they require you to enter your address, social security number, or credit card information. To make sure that a free email service isn’t collecting your data, use a throwaway email account (such as a Mailinator account).
Block known bad domains and IP addresses
If a hacker were to hack into your email account, they could also gain access to your computer’s domain settings. They could then change your domain name server (DNS) settings to point to a malicious website. This allows the hacker to trick people into going to a fake website where they can steal sensitive information, such as login information. To prevent this from happening, you should regularly check your domain settings and make sure that your DNS servers are set to your domain name. If you notice anything suspicious, you should change your DNS settings immediately. You should also check to see if your IP address is legitimate. If it isn’t, it could indicate that your computer has been hacked and that someone is using your IP address to commit crimes.
Be careful with what you click on and where you sign-in from
If you ever receive a suspicious email or text message, don’t click on any links or open any attachments. Instead, report the message to your internet service provider. You should also be careful where you sign into your email from. If you are using a public computer, make sure that you don’t log into your email account. You should also avoid signing in to your email account while using public WiFi. WiFi can be unreliable, which could allow hackers to access your computer. You should also be careful when signing into your email account from a friend’s computer, or while visiting a coffee shop. Other people might be able to access your computer or your email account.
Conclusion
Email is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family, but it also makes it easy for hackers to gain access to your sensitive information. It’s important to take the right precautions to secure your email account against hackers. If you follow these tips, you can help keep hackers out of your email account. You can then use your email account to stay in touch with loved ones without worrying about your sensitive information being stolen.
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