I have today activated the two-step login verification for my Google account. It was not complicated at all and not hard but it raises the security quite a bit when it comes to getting your accound hijacked. The principle is easy and I will explain how it works here.

For computers that you use to access your GMail account, Picasa account, Google+ or any other other services that runs through your Google account it means that if you are using a new computer at a friend’s house, at the internet café or at the library you should bring your phone. When you log in a code is sent to your phone by text message that you need to enter as well as your chosen password. This way it becomes much harder for someone to hack your account.

Other devices that are using your Google account, such as smartphones, pads and so on can be given separate passwords that are hard to guess and remember and can be revoked at any time. If you loose your phone, you can revoke the password and your phone can not be used to access your personal info any more.

If you are in a place where there is no coverage there is an app that will generate time-based one time logon passwords for Android, iPhone and Blackberry. You may also in advance print a list of one time codes on paper and take with you when you travel, allowing ten computers on your trip access.

At your Google accounts page you may also input alternative mobile phone numbers, create security questions and alternative e-mail addresses in case you need to recover a lost account.

Do not hesitate, go and sign up for your two-stage login now. Every day people get their accounts hijacked, they have someone they know spy on them because they forget to logout and so on. If your account gets hijacked it means your documents at Google docs are lost, your mail as well and so on…

Therefore it is time to activate the 2-step verification right now. Click here and get your business in order! accounts.google.com