There’s nothing worse than finding out that one of your accounts has been breached. Here’s a quick guide to help you secure your account:
Discovering a breach in one of your accounts can be alarming. Follow this streamlined guide for securing your account efficiently:
Prioritize and Stay Calm - First, assess if the compromised password was reused on more critical accounts. If yes, secure the more vital account immediately.
Change Your Password - Log into the affected account and update your password to a unique and complex one. If access is denied, use the “forgot password” feature to reset it.
Secure Account Access - Once logged in, act quickly to change the password and prevent further unauthorized access.
Verify Associated Emails - Review and remove any unknown email addresses linked to your account.
Check Registered Phone Numbers - Ensure the phone number on the account is correct, removing any unfamiliar numbers.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) - Opt for 2FA, preferring token-based options (e.g., Google Authenticator) over SMS for enhanced security.
Update Security Questions - Change your security questions, opting for nonsensical answers unguessable by others.
Utilize a Password Manager - Consider a password manager like 1Password or Keeper to generate and store complex passwords.
Refresh Passwords on Other Sites - Update passwords on sites where you’ve used similar credentials, leveraging a password manager to manage complexity.
By adopting these measures, including the use of password managers and two-factor authentication, you can significantly reduce the risk of future breaches.
Remember, maintaining account security is an ongoing process. Stay vigilant.