changing Gmail password: How to change Gmail password Mobile or Desktop

 Choose your two-factor authentication

Adding Two-step verification to your Google account is fairly simple and straightforward. The technology has come a long way over the past few years and is a must-have for all security-conscious Google users. There are several types of 2FA you can set in place to add security to your Gmail account. The most widespread ones are:

Text Messaging – SMS verification has long been the industry standard for Two-factor verification. That said, this type of 2FA has become obsolete with time, as SMS messages can be intercepted through basic flaws and are not very secure overall, compared to other methods we’ll get to in a second.

Google Prompts – There are two ways to use the Google Prompts feature. You can set it to use it with your phone instead of your password. Alternatively, you can select it as a 2FA method on top of the password. We must mention that Google Prompts can only be used on a mobile or tablet device.

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Authenticator App – There are many authenticator apps out there, but Google Authenticator is the best on the market. It’s simple, barebone, and relatively streamlined. Taking that into account, it poses the question – can Google authentication be hacked? If you’re worried about this, there’s only one 2FA method that can top it.

Security Key – hardware keys are always the most secure option in terms of 2FA security. They are created with customization and user experience in mind, often combine multiple features and compatibility with different devices. For example, the one like Hideez Key can store and automatically enter your login credetials at the push of the button, generate one-time passwords and make the process two-factor verification seamless and intuitive.

Take Care of Your Google Account Recovery

Strong password and 2FA aside, you also need to have a system in place in case you have to recover your Google account. Having a good account recovery mechanism in place will allow you to safely regain access if you’ve forgotten your password or lost your mobile device. With this in mind, there are two critical aspects you should take care of:

Phone and Email Recovery Setup – Registering a recovery mobile phone number and email address are a key precaution every Gmail user should take. It’s always a good idea to keep these recovery details up to date, especially when switching devices and emails.Recovery data will help you reset your password in case if you forget it or someone else will use your account.
If you want to add a recovery phone number and email address, go to “Personal info” of your Google Account and click “Add a recovery phone” on the “Contact info” section.
Add recovery email and phone number to Google account

Report Scams, Spam, and Phishing Attempts

Scams, phishing, and pharming attacks are a common occurrence every one of us has likely come across, whether we realize it or not. Luckily, Gmail has antimalware, and phishing protection turned on by default, so there isn’t anything extra you can do to add protection to your account.

That said, some phishing scams and spam mail can get through from time to time. In such cases, the best thing you can do is report the attempt to Google and avoid interacting with the email in any other way.

To report a spam or phishing email, you first have to click on the drop-down arrow mark on the right side of the email. When prompted, you can choose either the “Report Spam” or “Report Phishing” option. This will automatically remove the email from your inbox and forward a report to Google to help it improve its defense against such attempts.

Report phishing in Gmail

Bonus tip: How To Check Which Websites Sell Your Data?
Google includes a variety of nifty features and Gmail tricks you can use for your email account. One of the best ones is the one that allows you to check if any websites are selling or abusing your data. You can do so for any service or site you’re using.

If you want to check for this, type in the name of your Gmail address in the email field and a plus sign, and type in the name of the service you want to check. Finish the email address with the usual @gmail.com domain name.

For instance, if you’re checking Facebook, you can do so by typing the following formula: yournamesurname+facebook@gmail.com. If the site or service has shared any of your information with a third party, you’ll have everything directly in writing on your screen.

Enroll in the Google Advanced Protection Program

If you want to go a step beyond, you can take the ultimate action to enroll in Google’s new Advanced Protection Program. This new program implements exclusive security keys for your accounts, offering added protection from phishing attacks.

Unlike most security keys, which can be expensive and impractical, the Advanced Protection Program allows devices to have a built-in security key. This innovative program is currently available on both Android 7+ and iOS 10.0+ devices. Additionally, you’ll also need to purchase two security keys you’ll register with your account.