Protecting Your Online Accounts: A Comprehensive Guide
In an increasingly digital world, the threat of hackers targeting regular individuals is on the rise. These cybercriminals aim to steal sensitive information, gain access to bank accounts, or even stalk their victims. While these attacks are still relatively rare, it’s important to be proactive and take steps to protect yourself if you suspect that someone has compromised your email or social media accounts.
Here, we provide a comprehensive guide to help you secure your online accounts across various platforms. It’s worth noting that while these methods don’t guarantee complete protection, they offer valuable tools to enhance your account security. If you’re a journalist, activist, or someone at a higher risk of being targeted, consider reaching out to Access Now’s digital security helpline for expert assistance.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
One of the simplest and most effective ways to enhance your account security is by enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all your accounts, especially the most important ones like email, banking, and social media. MFA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to provide additional verification, such as a unique code sent to their mobile device, in addition to the password. A great resource to help you enable MFA on over 1,000 websites is available, offering alternative options to the recommended multi-factor app.
Utilize Physical Security Keys and Passkeys
Certain online services now offer the option to use physical security keys or passkeys stored in your password manager. These keys serve as highly secure safeguards against account intrusions that rely on password-stealing malware or phishing attempts. By using these physical keys, you significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts.
Protecting Your Gmail Account
If you suspect that your Gmail account has been compromised, the first step is to scroll to the bottom of your inbox and click on “Last account activity” in the bottom right corner. This will display a list of all the locations where your Google account is active. If you notice any unfamiliar activity, click on “Security Checkup” to view the devices where your account is active and review recent security activity. If you identify any suspicious devices, change your password immediately and remove third-party access by visiting the Google Support page.
Consider Google’s Advanced Protection
For added protection, consider enabling Google’s Advanced Protection feature for your account. While this may require the purchase of security keys, these hardware devices serve as a second-factor, making it incredibly difficult for malicious hackers to gain access to your Google account. This method is highly recommended for individuals at a higher risk of being targeted.
Secure Your Outlook and Microsoft Logins
To check the activity of your Microsoft Outlook account, navigate to your Microsoft Account and click on “Security” in the left-hand menu. Then, under “Sign-in activity,” select “View my activity” to see recent logins, including the platform, device, browser type, and IP address. If you notice any suspicious activity, follow the provided steps to enhance your account security.
Ensure the Safety of Your LinkedIn Account
LinkedIn provides a support page with detailed instructions on how to check if your account is logged into a device or location you don’t recognize. By accessing the “Settings” and “Sign in & Security” sections on the LinkedIn app or website, you can review the locations where your account is logged in. If you encounter any unfamiliar sessions, log out of them immediately by clicking on “End” or “End these sessions.”
Monitor Your Yahoo Account
Yahoo offers a tool to review your account and sign-in activity, allowing you to identify any unusual or suspicious behavior. By visiting the “Manage your account” section in your Yahoo Account Overview, you can access the “Review recent activity” page. Here, you’ll find information about recent password changes, added phone numbers, connected devices, and corresponding IP addresses.
Protect Your Apple ID
To ensure the security of your Apple ID, you can easily check which devices are logged into your account. On an iPhone or iPad, go to “Settings,” tap on your name, and scroll down to view the list of devices. On a Mac, click on the Apple logo, select “System Settings,” click on your name, and find the list of devices. Additionally, you can use Apple’s iCloud app on Windows or access your Apple ID account page on the web to view and manage your logged-in devices.
Enhance Facebook and Instagram Security
Facebook offers a feature to see where your account is logged in. By navigating to the “Password and Security” settings, you can access the “Where you’re logged in” section. Similarly, if your Instagram account is linked to Facebook, you can check the logged-in sessions through the “Account Center” on Instagram’s website. From these interfaces, you can log out of specific devices or enable Facebook’s Advanced Protection feature for added security.
Secure Your WhatsApp Account
WhatsApp now allows users to use the app on multiple devices, including computers and browsers. To check where you’re logged in, open the WhatsApp app on your mobile phone. On iPhones and iPads, tap on the Settings icon, then “Linked devices.” On Android, tap on the three dots, then “Linked devices.” From these menus, you can view the list of devices and log out of any suspicious sessions.
Protect Your Signal Account
Signal, similar to WhatsApp, offers dedicated Desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux. To view and remove linked devices, access the “Linked Devices” screen and tap on “Edit.” This will log your account out and unlink it from the selected devices.
Review Your X (Twitter) Account Sessions
To see where you’re logged into your X account, navigate to the “Settings and privacy” section, click on “Security and account access,” and select “Apps and sessions.” Here, you can manage the connected apps, view active sessions, and access the account access history. You can log out of all other sessions by clicking on the “Log out of all other sessions” button.
Ensure the Safety of Your Snap Account
Snapchat provides a session management feature to check where your account is logged in. On the Snapchat app or website, access the “Session Management” section to view the list of logged-in sessions. From there, you can log out of suspicious sessions or those you don’t recognize. Snapchat also alerts you on your phone when someone attempts to log into your account, allowing you to verify or block the login.
Conclusion
Securing your online accounts is crucial in today’s digital landscape. By following the steps outlined for various platforms, such as Gmail, Outlook, LinkedIn, Yahoo, Apple, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Signal, X, and Snap, you can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and protect your sensitive information. Remember to enable multi-factor authentication, regularly review your account activity, and consider advanced security features offered by these platforms. Safeguarding your email account is particularly important, as it often serves as the gateway to your other online accounts. Stay vigilant and take proactive measures to enhance your online security.