At Google, we take account security very seriously. To ensure that your computer and account remain safe, we strongly recommend following these steps regularly:
- Check for viruses and malware. Run a scan on your computer with a trusted anti-virus software. If the scan detects any suspicious programs or applications, remove them immediately. Read more
- Change your password at least twice a year. Make sure you choose a password that contains a combination of numbers, characters, and case-sensitive letters to strengthen the security of your account. Read more.
- Perform regular operating system and browser updates. Whether you use Windows or Mac OS, we recommend enabling your automatic update setting, and updating when you get a notification. To check for browser updates in Internet Explorer, select the Tools tab and click Windows Update. In Firefox, just click the Help tab and select Check for Updates. Note that Google Chrome automatically updates to a newer version when one is released.
- Never use your Google Account password on another website. If this website is compromised and your password is discovered, someone could try to sign in to your Google Account with the same information.
- Protect your password. Never enter your password after following a link in an email from an untrusted site. Always go directly to mail.google.com or www.google.com/accounts/Login. Also, never send your password via email. Google will never email you to ask for your password or other sensitive information.
If you use Gmail:
- Update your secondary email address and your security question. This will help you recover your account if you ever lose access to it. Make sure that you have access to the email address listed as your secondary, and the answer to your security question is easy for you to remember, but hard for others to guess. Learn more
- Use a secure connection when signing in. In your Gmail settings, select 'Always use HTTPS.' This setting protects your information from being stolen when you're signing in to Gmail on a public wireless network, like at a cafe or hotel. Read more
You should also be sure to:
- Never tell anyone your password; if you do tell someone, change it as soon as possible.
- Use a strong password, and don't write it down or send it via email.
- Run scans and change your password immediately after noticing any changes in your account that you didn't initiate.
- Always sign out of your account when you're using public computers. Just click Sign out at the top right corner of the screen when you're done using your Google Account.
- Clear forms, passwords, cache, and cookies in your browser on a regular basis, especially on a public computer.
You should perform these steps more frequently if you begin to notice suspicious behavior in your computer, such as general slowness and pop-up advertisements.
Watch a video on how to keep your Google Account secure.
If you believe that your account has been compromised, please reset your password immediately.