There’s a simple tool everyone should be using to protect their online accounts: a backup email address. While often overlooked, a backup email account is an easy way to streamline recovery, protect against data breaches, and help organize your digital life.
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Essentially, a backup email address is a secondary account linked to your primary email for a little extra security. It's often used for password recovery, verification codes, notifications of unusual account activity, or as a place to send emails that you don't necessarily want to go to your primary account.
Unlike your primary email, which handles important, day-to-day communications, your backup email is more limited in its ability to be hacked. This makes it less vulnerable to attack, and its sole purpose is to act as a safety net for your online accounts. Think of it as an extra layer of protection between your online presence and those who want to steal your identity or access your information.
Aside from just having a backup email in case something goes wrong, here are some other reasons why you need a backup email address:
Now that you know why you should have a backup email address, we can look at how to actually use it.
The first step in setting up a backup email is to choose a trusted provider with strong security features like encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA) . For example, we chose Mailfence over Protonmail. For added security, we created a unique email address that isn't related to your name or easily guessed, which further enhances security.
Of course, you should also provide this secondary email account with a strong and unique password.
Connect your backup email to all your major online accounts, including banking, shopping, and social media platforms . Most services make this easy to do during setup or in your account settings under recovery options. You'll have to confirm that the second email account belongs to you using a verification method, but it's a simple process.
To ensure your email remains secure, you should regularly check your backup email account to see if you still have access and review any notifications. Updating your password every 6 months is another thing to add to your routine for even more security.
First, make sure you choose a trustworthy provider. You want one with strong security features, and any password for this backup email should be long, unique, and unrelated to other passwords you’ve used in the past. Many people like to use a password manager to generate and store their passwords; good options include Dashlane, NordPass, and Proton Pass.
You’ll also want to secure your account with two-factor authentication (2FA). This really increases the security of your backup email because it requires a second verification step — such as sending a link to your phone or another email — to log in. And finally, avoid casual sharing. Keep your backup email private and only link it to accounts that really need it. This will reduce the chance that it could be exposed in the event of a data breach.
Email backup may seem like a small aspect of online security, but it plays a huge role in keeping your digital life organized and safe. From adding an extra layer of protection to streamlining account recovery, this simple step can save you a lot of trouble. If you don’t already have a backup email, consider setting one up today. It’s a quick, easy, and effective way to protect your online presence.
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