Do you have a Google account?
Chances are you do, even if you don’t realize it. Here are a few questions…
- Do you use Gmail?
- Do you sign into YouTube to watch videos?
- Do you use Google Maps?
- Do you use an Android smartphone?
- Do you use any Google service or product that isn’t listed above?
If the answer to one or more of those questions is yes, then you do have a Google account.
And as you can probably guess, Google accounts are among the most popular targets for hackers since Google collects and stores so much information about you.
That’s why it’s extremely important to make sure your Google account is as secure as it can possibly be.
Auditing the security of an online account can be a real chore, but Google provides a handy ‘Security Checkup’ tool that makes it easy to quickly audit your Google account’s security.
Just follow the steps below for the device you’re using to launch Google’s Security Checkup and verify that your account is truly secure.
If you use Google in a web browser on a laptop or desktop computer:
1 – Visit Google.com and sign into your Google account.
2 – Click your profile picture on the far-right side of the top menu bar.
3 – Click Manage your Google Account.
4 – In the left-hand pane, click Security.
In the top section you’ll see a very brief description of your account’s current security status.
5 – If Google has at least one recommendation regarding your account’s security, you’ll see a “Review security tips” link. Go ahead and click that link.
If Google considers your account to be secure you’ll see a “See details” link. Go ahead and click it.
6 – Review any tips that Google has provided for you. If it makes sense to you and your situation, you can now go ahead and make the recommended change. If not, you can skip it.
7 – Click on the arrow for each section below to review the current settings for those sections and make any changes that you deem necessary.
If you use the Google app on a mobile device:
1 – Open the Google app and sign into your Google account.
2 – Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen.
3 – Tap Manage your Google Account.
4 – Scroll down and look for either a “Review security tips” link or a “See details” link, then tap the one you see.
5 – Review any tips that Google has provided for you. If it makes sense to you and your situation, you can now go ahead and make the recommended change. If not, you can skip it.
6 – Tap on the arrow for each section below to review the current settings for those sections and make any changes that you deem necessary.
That’s all there is to it. Hopefully your Google account is now secure and as safe as it can possibly be from hack attempts.