Today I’m going to tell you about protecting your Gmail account. Gmail is considered to be one of the strongest accounts to break into. But recently, it has been proven that it can be done. We have to be very careful in securing our passwords so that other networks like Facebook, Orkut and Google Plus are not compromised as well. Since social networking plays a prominent role in our life, we have to secure our email accounts with which they are linked up. The Gmail team has setup a 2 step verification process to strengthen your account. Here’s how to do it.
The main reason to strengthen your Google account is that it is a common account for many other services. With a single Gmail id you are accessing other services of Google like Android, Google Plus, Adsense, Adwords, Orkut, and a lot other services. So if you are using all of those services and want to protect your ID, you should follow this procedure.
Protecting Gmail Using 2-Step Verification :
I will just add some screenshots to makethe procest understandable. Just follow the simple steps below. Before getting into the step 2 verification, make sure you have setup your recovery options. In case you have lost your password, you can get it back immediately. You can set the recovering options just above the using 2 step verification option, as shown in below screenshot.
1) Login to your Google Account. You can Login either from Google.com or Gmail.com and after logging in, Just click on Account Settings as shown in below screenshot to go to the options page.
2) Now click on Using Step 2 Verification which is highlighted as number 2 in above click. Then you will be asked to click on a Start Setup Option in the next page.
3) After that you will be redirected to another page where you have to enter your mobile details. You can select the 2ways of setting up your step 2 verification process. One is land line or Mobile phone conformation and the other is the smart phones setup (eg: android, blackberry and iPhone). Take a look at the screenshot below. I have selected the normal phone text verification process since i am using a normal Samsung Corby TXT mobile.
4) As you can see in the above picture, the first red mark option is where we have selected our SMS or Voice Call option and at step 2 you have to enter your mobile number so it takes you further. I suggest SMS text message as shown in step 3. So after entering the phone and the option, click on the Send Code option (4). you will receive a code to your mobile, just enter it and verify. Click on next to move the next page.
5) This is the page where you are verified and asked to store some verification backup numbers in case you lost your number or phone. Just take a screenshot of those numbers and keep it with you. They are really useful when you have lost your mobile phone. Take a look at the screenshot below.
6) You have to enter another backup phone number to move to the next step. Put any friend’s number or your other alternate number to verify it. Now its done. You can directly access you turn your Step 2 Verification access. Just click on the Step 2 Verification as seen in below screenshot.
7) As you can see in the above screenshot that all your account sources are verified. Now after click Turn on 2-Step Verification button above, you will warned that you will be logged out of all the access which you have from satishcoolpctips@gmail.com Google account. For a better idea, Look at the screenshot below.
8 ) Click OK to proceed further. After clicking OK here your access to the Gmail id which you have secured will be very strong. Just take a look at the screenshot below.
9) That’s it.. Now your Gmail account is step 2 verified account. So each and every time when you want to login your Gmail account, You will be sent a verification code to your mobile which has to be entered in the above Enter code : option to access your Gmail services. In this way you can protect Gmail services which you want. If you want to know more, then Click here :Tutorial
Remember that you cannot access your GTALK while protecting Gmail account when step 2 verification ON. you are using the Step 2-Verification process. If you want to chat with your mates, you can always chat from the Gmail inbuilt chat. That’s all for today, If you have any queries, please let me know with a simple comment below. Also please share with us any more ways of protecting Gmail.
