The necessary Google account settings for added security

From emails, documents to photos and notes - a Google account is a place to store important personal data for many people. What have you done to protect it against hackers or other online threats?

At the very least, make the following basic changes in your Google account page to make it safe and easy to recover data when needed.

1. Add email addresses and phone numbers

If you've ever been locked out of a Google account, creating a backup of your phone number or email address will rescue you. For added security, it is best to add both of the above information. Google will occasionally remind you to do this every time you open your account settings. (Security questions are no longer part of Google's account configuration.)

If you haven't saved the latest contact details on Google, you can update them as follows:

1. In your Google account, click on Security in the sidebar to access the privacy settings.
2. In the Ways we can verify it's you section , click the Recovery phone and Recovery email options to add new information. Make sure the recovery email address is different from the Gmail address associated with the account you are updating these settings on. It is best to use an account other than Gmail .

You can also update contact details from the Personal info page (possibly from the sidebar). Here, you will also see another email address connected to your account. If the normal method does not work, Google may ask you for one of these addresses when the recovery process takes place

Setting a recovery address and phone number ensures you can sign in to your Google account even if you can't remember your password or email address. However, in case these methods fail, you should copy two important information that Google may require during the account recovery process:

• Password history : Only the two most recent passwords are required. If you use a password manager , you can access this data easily.
• Time to create an account .

2. Set up two-step verification

When you turned on 2-step verification, you created a second fence for your Google account. After that, you can only access this account with a password and time-based flexible code. This is a form of multifactor authentication (2FA).

To install this enhanced security measure:

1. Go to the Security page from the sidebar.
2. In Signing in to Google , click 2-Step Verification .
3. On the next screen, click the Get Started button .

At this time, Google will ask you to enter a valid phone number to receive a one-time code. You can select them via SMS or voice message. Get this password and click on the Next link .

On the next screen, enter the 6-digit password you received from Google on your phone. Again click Next . Continue to activate 2FA by clicking the Turn on link that appears.

You will then see a convenient alternative that can be used as a second step if you don't have a phone or want a safer, easier option. Physical security key is the safest option for you.

Whether you use this method or want to stick with SMS or a dedicated authentication application, make sure you don't skip the next step: print a backup code.

Print the backup code

There will be times when you do not have access to any method of generating one-time verification codes in the usual way due to loss of phone or are offline. Sometimes the authentication application is having problems.

No matter what they're facing, they can't block access to Google accounts. If you already have backup codes, do the following to access them:

1. If you can't open the 2-Step Verification screen , access it via Security> Signing in to Google .
2. Click Set Up in Backup codes .
3. Save 10 backups created by Google. You can print them to PDF, download them as text files, or paste them into security notes in the password manager. Each code can only be used once.

If you have already created a set of passwords but haven't saved them, follow the steps above. (Remember you will see a Show Codes link instead of Set Up in the Backup codes section).

3. Control content shared on Google

Information thieves can use your personal data to steal your identity. That is why it is imperative that you keep information such as your birthday, your birthplace, your phone number, your email address, your home address, etc.

If these data are part of your Google account, you can control who can see them from the Control what people see about you page . Go to this page by clicking People & sharing> Choose what others see in your Google account.

Here, scan the page to identify each piece of information being labeled Visible - Display or Globe icon - Global. They tell you what data is displayed to all people who interact with you, (i.e., public). Click on them one by one to highlight the data ( Hidden ). You also have the option to label Your Organization , ensuring that only team members can see that data.

4. Remove access to third-party applications you do not use

You can use your Google account to log in to third-party applications or grant permission to view & change Google calendars for that account. It's best to make sure only apps you trust have access to Google accounts. For the rest, you should remove all permissions for them.

To do this, go to the Apps with access to your account page . You can access it via the Security section:

1. Click Manage third-party access link in Third-party apps with account access .
2. Click Signing in with Google in Signing in to other sites .

Now, on the next screen, you'll see all external apps that have access to some settings in your Google account. Click on each application to see which parts of the Google account it can view and edit. If not satisfied, click the Remove Access button to disconnect the application from this account.

This action does not actually delete the account associated with the third party application. It will only make that account inaccessible until you reconnect to a Google account. To actually delete, you will have to delete the account for the relevant application before removing its access from the Google account.

Above are the essential settings to help better secure Google account. Hope they are useful to you.