Having an e-mail account is a necessity if you have to use various online services on the internet. Nowadays, most people will at least have a Google mail account to use their Android devices and some essential Google services, such as Google Drive and YouTube. There are also thousands of free e-mail service providers that are available on the internet. While these services might be convenient for you to use, it is always important for you to protect it from possible privacy and security breaches.
First of all, most e-mail services today have the default SPAM protection system to prevent you from getting junk, SPAM, or phishing emails on your inbox. However, there are still many services that don’t have this essential feature. So, how can you protect your email account more? Here are 5 extra protections that you need to have for your email account:
1. Use The 2-Step Verification System
The 2-step verification system is an important security feature that is available in most email platforms to prevent any type of unauthorized access in your account. This is because when you log into your account using the 2-step verification system, you are required to verify your log in attempt using another account/device that you have. For instance, the system can send the verification code to your mobile number or another email address.
By turning this security option on, hackers can’t just breach into your account because they have to need to enter the verification code that is sent to your other device or account, which they don’t have access to. Since this security feature is not turned on by default, you should check the security system of your email platform to turn this feature on.
2. Make Sure To Set Up Your Recovery Method
What will happen when you forgot the password of your email? The answer is that you will need to reset your password using the recovery account. While some email accounts will guide you to set up your recovery method in the first time you are using the platform, some email service providers might not do that. So, when you use such an email provider and lost your password, you might lose the access of your account forever if you don’t have any recovery email in place.
This is why it is important to go to the recovery option of your email account and set the recovery method for it as soon as possible. Be sure to fill in your recovery information completely.
3. Don’t Link Your Email Address To Unknown Websites
When you access some online services, you might be able to connect with such a service using your email account in order to simplify the sign up or log in process. It is fine for you to connect, for instance, your Google Mail account with such a service if you know exactly that the service is trustworthy. However, be aware of connecting your email account to unknown services online.
There is a chance that these unknown online services will use your account information to solicit your personal data without your consent. So, be very careful when connecting your email account with other online services.
4. Use VPN To Access Your Email Account
Let’s say that a hacker is able to breach into your network connection because your Wi-Fi network is open and not encrypted. Then, what can that hacker do next? Once a hacker is able to penetrate your network system, he can do anything with your system. He can see your email communications, steal your important documents, hijack your online communications, install viruses to your system, and so on.
This is why a VPN is very handy to help you keep your network access encrypted, and when you use VPN to access your email account, you are adding an extra layer of protection to it. Hackers can’t track your email communications via a network breach since it is already encrypted.
5. Never Read Any SPAM Email
SPAM emails, which might seem harmless when you put them on the junk folder, can be really dangerous if you open it. Many SPAM emails contain phishing links that will lead people to fake websites that are designed to steal the user’s account credentials. For the unsuspecting internet users, opening a SPAM email and clicking any link on it can pose them into a high risk of privacy breach. Moreover, SPAM attachments can have viruses and malware in it, so you should never read or open any SPAM messages that you receive in your account. Just delete it right away.
Those are the 5 extra protections that you need to have for your email account. You need to be really careful in your online communications today because it can pose you to a big risk of privacy breach. Protect your email accounts all the time with these extra protections and you will be free from any hacking attempts on your account.