Two Things You Should Do Today
Right, here’s the thing. Most people set up their Microsoft and Google accounts years ago and haven’t looked at their recovery information since. That’s a problem waiting to happen.
Your recovery email address and phone number are your lifeline when something goes wrong. Passwords get forgotten, accounts get locked, and sometimes security systems need extra verification. If your recovery information is outdated or wrong, you could be completely locked out with no way to prove the account is yours.
Check Your Recovery Information
Take five minutes today to check your important accounts.
For your Microsoft account, visit account.microsoft.com, go to Security, then Advanced security options. Make sure your recovery email and phone number are current.
For your Google account, visit myaccount.google.com, go to Security, and review your recovery phone and recovery email.
While you’re at it, think about your other important accounts: social media, banking, cloud storage, shopping accounts. Each one should have up-to-date recovery details.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Here’s the next step, and it’s equally important. Relying on a password alone isn’t enough anymore.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an extra verification step when you sign in, making it dramatically harder for attackers to access your accounts even if they somehow get your password. It’s one of the best security measures you can take.
Use an Authenticator App
I strongly recommend using an authenticator app like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator rather than text message codes.
Authenticator apps generate secure, time-based codes directly on your phone. They work even without mobile service and they’re far more resistant to common attacks like phishing and SIM swapping. Text messages can be intercepted or redirected, but authenticator apps can’t.
What to Do
Enable MFA on your key accounts: Microsoft, Google, banking, social media, and anywhere else that offers it. Pair it with an authenticator app for the strongest protection.
A few minutes of setup now can prevent hours of recovery work later and safeguard the information that matters most.
If you need help setting this up, give us a call. We can walk you through it.