Five Ways To Keep Your Email Account Secure

Having your email account hacked and receiving hundreds of spam messages is a nuisance. But the consequences could be much more serious if fraudsters use information they gain from your email to impersonate you.
 
While there’s no foolproof way to keep your account from being hacked, here are five tips to help keep your account secure. 

1. Choose your password carefully. You’ve probably heard it before, but it bears repeating. It’s important to use complex passwords that are difficult to guess. And be sure to use a different password for every account you have.
2. Limit apps. The more apps you download, the more entry points hackers have to gain access to your system. Keep only those you use regularly and make sure you download them from a source you trust. Delete apps you don’t use.
3. Select security questions wisely. Many email programs require you to complete security questions in case you forget your password, so it can be reset. If you use questions such as “what’s your mother’s maiden name” or “where did you graduate from college,” hackers can easily find that information and use it to access your email.
4. Install anti-malware programs on your devices. Viruses, keystroke programs and other types of malware make it easy for hackers to access your computer and all the information on it. Anti-malware software may help prevent your computer and other electronic devices from becoming infected.
5. Enable 2-step verification. Some email programs offer two-step authentication, which provides an added layer of security by requiring you to input a verification code in addition to your password before you can access your account.