How to audit and secure your Google account

LOG INTO YOUR ACCOUNT

After performing manual scans with your security software, open your web browser and head over to https://account.google. com to log into your Google account. If you get a cookie mismatch error, open your browser’s privacy and security settings and add ‘google.com’ to the list of allowed exceptions, then try again. Enter your username and password to log on.

REVIEW AND REVOKE

Work through the sections using the annotation as a guide. It’s all self-explanatory — potential security issues, such as risky apps are listed first, but don’t forget to check everything within each section (click ‘Show others’ under ‘Third-Party Access’, for example). Revoke access where applicable, or click ‘Don’t recognise an event?’ to change your password.

PERFORM A SECURITY AUDIT

You’ll see your account settings are split into three sections — let’s start with ‘Sign-in & security’. Scroll down the page and click ‘Get Started’ under ‘Security Check-up’. You’ll be given an instant security rating, with potential issues split into four categories. Start at the top by clicking ‘Third-Party Access’ to see which apps and services have unverified access to your account.

CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD

When you’ve completed your audit, click ‘Continue to my account’. From the main screen, click ‘Signing into Google’. You’ll see your password listed along with the date it was last changed. Click ‘>’ to update it. Enter your existing password, then change it for something stronger — if you have a password manager, use that to generate and store a strong, random password.