How Google can help you fight identity theft
Google uses various technologies to help protect you from online identity theft and make sure your Google Account stays secure.
2-step verification
For even higher levels of security for your Google Account, we offer our users 2-Step Verification. This tool provides an extra layer of security by requiring not only a password, but also a verification code to sign in to a Google Account. Even if an attacker compromises, guesses, or otherwise intercepts your password, they can't sign in to your account without entering the verification code sent to your mobile phone. We offer 2-Step Verification in over 50 languages and 175 countries. Learn more about how to set up 2-Step Verification.
Encryption
Google takes many steps to keep your personal information safe from hackers and intruders. By default, the Gmail connection between your computer and Google is encrypted. This helps protect your Google activity from being intercepted. This protection method, known as end-to-end SSL encryption, is the default when you're signed in to Google Drive and many other services.
Suspicious account activity alerts
We notified many users when we noticed suspicious activity on their account, such as logins that appeared to come from one country followed by a login in another country. These users received a warning message in their Gmail inbox about this unusual access. We also occasionally ask users to change their passwords if we have reason to believe their account may have been compromised.
Email authentication
To combat abuse and keep spam out of your inbox, Gmail uses email authentication to determine whether a message actually comes from the address it appears to be sent from. All active Gmail users – and the people they communicate with – are automatically protected against threats to their personal and financial information.
Spam protection
Gmail protects you from spam and harmful email. Gmail processes billions of messages every day and has a great track record of protecting users from spam – less than 1% of all spam in Gmail ever reaches a user’s inbox. When a spammer sends a new type of spam, our systems often detect it and block it from Google Accounts within minutes. This way, spam that could harm your computer or try to steal your personal information has a lower chance of succeeding.
Keep your device secure
If you are being redirected by Google or seeing pop-up ads, unwanted toolbars, or strange Google search results, your computer may be infected with malware. Malware is software designed to harm your computer and gain control over it.
