A strong password will be at least 10 characters in length, but the more the better. The longer your password is, the more time it will take the hacker to crack it. A strong password should contain at least one of each of the following characters: lower-case letters, upper-case letters, numbers, and special characters.

It’s not enough to use the same password with different numbers at the end (e. g. , password1, password2 …). Consider downloading the Password Alert extension if you use Google Chrome. Password Alert will warn you whenever you enter you Google Password on a non-Google site, which can help protect you from phishing and accidentally using your Google password on another site. To use Password Alert, simply download it from the Chrome store, and then follow the onscreen directions.

You might have a password manager built into your operating system — for example, Mac users have keychain available to them for free. If you don’t want to use a password manager, consider using a passphrase, for example: “I like big butts and I cannot lie!” might become iLbBaIcL!

If it’s not possible for you to avoid typing a password into a computer you don’t trust, then change your password once you’re back at your own computer.

Google prompt is the most secure method of two-step verification, while an authenticator app is somewhere in the middle with voice or text message being the least secure (although any of these methods would be more secure than not having two-step verification at all).

If you see something that you don’t recognize, then you should change your password immediately.

If you don’t have any app passwords, then you can skip this step.

Your account may not have an option to set a PIN.

Your account may not have an option to set a PIN.

Make sure that you only use an email address or phone number that you control, don’t use the ones of friends or family. Even if you trust your friends or family, their account could be hacked, or phone stolen, which would then put your account at risk.

You can directly access this page by visiting myaccount. google. com/security-checkup on your browser.

You can directly access this page by visiting myaccount. google. com/security-checkup on your browser.

If any issues are found, then follow the recommended action to secure your account.

To disable POP3 and IMAP access, navigate to Gmail, and then click on the settings gear in the upper right corner, click “settings”, and then select the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. Once there, select the disable option for both services, and then click on Save Changes The Mail app on Windows 10 and the Gmail app on your phone should continue to work even if POP3 and IMAP are disabled.

Gmail also allows you to block emails from specific email addresses that you do not trust or want to hear from. Know how to spot a scam. If you suspect a phishing email, then report it. To avoid getting phished, beware of the following: Messages with poor grammar, spelling, and typos. Messages asking for your personal information such as your credit card info, driver’s license, social insurance number, date of birth, etc. Messages claiming that your account will be deleted unless you give out your password.