Protect Your Gmail from Cyber Attacks: Open a Backup Account Before It's Too Late
Google prioritizes your security, continuously enhancing protections to combat cyber threats. With over 2.5 billion active users, Gmail is a prime target for hackers, who often use advanced techniques to bypass two-factor authentication (2FA). Recently, reports have surfaced of session-cookie thefts and 2FA-bypassing attacks against Gmail accounts. Fortunately, there’s a straightforward step you can take to safeguard your emails—open a second Gmail account and set up a rule to back up your data.
Why Create a Second Gmail Account?
Imagine waking up locked out of your Gmail account, with hackers having bypassed your 2FA. Unfortunately, this scenario is becoming more common, as cybercriminals develop sophisticated methods like session-cookie theft to circumvent even Google’s advanced protections. Google advises users to activate 2FA whenever available and has added features like secure passkey sign-ins and safe browsing on Chrome. However, attackers continue finding ways around these defenses.
While opening a second Gmail account won’t prevent an attack, it can minimize its impact. Setting up an additional account as a backup provides a layer of security, ensuring your essential emails and data are safe if your primary account is compromised.
Setting Up Your Backup Gmail Account
With Gmail free and accessible, creating multiple accounts is simple. Follow these steps to set up a secure backup account:
1. Sign out of your existing Google account.
2. Visit the Google Account sign-in page.
3. Click “Create account” and follow the prompts.
To maximize security, ensure your new account uses a different device for passkey authentication or a 2FA code-generating app separate from the primary account’s device. Avoid using the same recovery email, phone number, or password to reduce vulnerability. Once the account is created, go to your main Gmail account settings and set up an automatic forwarding rule to send a copy of every email to this backup account.
Enroll in Google’s Advanced Account Protection Program
For even greater security, consider enrolling both Gmail accounts in Google’s Advanced Protection Program. This program makes it harder for hackers to access or recover compromised accounts by adding extra security measures, providing you with a stronger line of defense.
If someone compromises your primary account, they won’t automatically have access to your backup account. Since the two accounts are separate, a hacker would need to breach each individually, ensuring your backup remains safe.
While no one wants to face a security breach, being prepared can help you protect your data and minimize the potential impact.
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