Use Two-Factor Authentication with Gmail and Other Accounts
Gmail and other services offer two-factor authentication that help secure your account even if your password is stolen or cracked.
When you set up two-factor authentication, you get verification codes delivered to your phone, which you then enter, in addition to your username and password, when you sign into Gmail. Google also offers an application you can download to your phone to generate the codes locally.
Use Unique Passwords
Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts. Pick unique passwords for personal email, work email, banking, social networking sites and shopping. Use an alpha-numeric password composed of upper and lower case letters and numbers. If one site gets hacked and your username and password are exposed — as occurred in multiple hacks over the past years — hackers will attempt to use the exposed password with multiple accounts you might have. Don’t help them do one-stop shopping for all your credentials.
Back Up Your System
Someone’s pain was increased tenfold when he discovered the hackers had erased all of the photos from his daughter’s first year of life. Storage is so cheap these days and automated backups are so easy to set up that there’s no excuse not to keep copies of your important data.