How to secure gmail account

For securing your Gmail account, Gmail provides you a two step verification facility.

With two-step verification, you can set up Gmail to require a special code for login in addition to your password. The code comes through your phone and is valid for 30 seconds.

Secure Your Gmail Account with a Password and Your Phone

To have Gmail ask you for a remembered password and a code sent to your mobile phone to log in for enhanced security, follow the following steps :

• Click on your name or photo in the top Gmail navigation bar.
• Now select Account from the menu that comes up.
  • If you do not see your name or photo,
  • click the Settings gear in Gmail,
  • select Settings,
  • go to the Accounts and Import tab and
  • click Other Google Account settings.
• Go to the Security category.
• Click Edit under 2-step verification.
• If prompted, enter your Gmail password under Password: and click Sign in.
• Click Set up 2-step verification.
• If you use an Android, BlackBerry or iOS device:
  • Select your phone under Set up your phone.
  • Install the Google Authenticator app on your phone.
  • Open the Google Authenticator app.
  • Select + in the application.
  • Select Scan Barcode.
  • Click Next » in your browser.
  • Focus the QR code on the web page with the phone's camera.
  • Click Next » in your browser again.
  • Enter the code that appeared in the Google Authenticator app for the email address you just added under Code:.
  • Click Verify.
• If you use any other phone:
  • Select Text message (SMS) or voice call under Set ujp your phone.
  • Enter your phone number under Add a mobile or landline phone number where Google can send codes..
  • Choose SMS text message if your phone can receive SMS messages or Automated voice message to have authentication codes read to you.
  • Click Send code.
  • Type the numerical Google verification code you received under Code:.
  • Click Verify.
• Click Next » again.
• Click Next » once more.
• Now click Print codes to print offline verification codes that you can use to log in to your Gmail account when your phone is misplaced; keep the codes separately from the phone.
• Make sure Yes, I have a copy of my backup verification codes. is checked after you have written down or printed the offline verification codes.
• Click Next ».
• Enter a backup phone number — a landline, for example, or a family member or friend's phone — under You can have codes sent to your backup phone number if your primary phone is unavailable, lost, or stolen..
• Pick SMS text message if the phone can receive SMS messages or Automated voice message.
• If your backup phone and friend are handy, use (Optional) Test the phone to send an authentication code to it.
• Click Next ».
• If you have add-ons and applications access your Gmail account:
  • Click Next ».
• Now click Turn on 2-step verification.
• Click OK under You are turning on 2-step verification for this account..
• Enter your Gmail address under Email:.
• Type your Gmail password under Password:.
• Click Sign in.
• Enter the verification code received under Enter code:.
• Optionally, select Remember verification for this computer for 30 days., which will not have Gmail request new phone verification for a month.
• Click Verify.
• If you have add-ons and applications access your Gmail account, you may have to set up specific passwords for them:
  • Click Create passwords.
  • Set up passwords for applications that do not work with enhanced 2-step verification (such as email programs that access your Gmail account using POP or IMAP).

Disable Two-Step Gmail Verification

To turn off enhanced two-step verification for your Gmail account:

• Go to the Google 2-step verification page.
• If prompted, enter your Gmail password under Password: and click Sign in.
• Click Turn off 2-step verification….
• Now click OK.

That is all about securing Gmail account.