Why Secure a Microsoft Account?
What programs, products, and subscriptions are linked to your Microsoft account? If you use your Microsoft account to sign in to your Windows 10 PCs and devices, that’s a good enough reason to secure a Microsoft account right there. But if you also use your account to access Microsoft Office, Skype, or products that utilize payment options, there’s even more reason to get on top of securing your account as soon as possible. You don’t want your Microsoft account credentials to fall into the wrong hands. It’s time to do whatever you can to secure and protect your account information.
- Step One: Go to the Microsoft Account website at account.microsoft.com and sign-in to log into the account. Enter your email address and password and click on the Security tab at the home page. While you are there, consider changing your password. Speak with one of our consultants about strong and secure passwords. If you use the current password anywhere else, change it right away. On the Security page, just click Change My Password to get started.
- Step Two: Update your security information. Go back to the Security page and click on Update My Info. This is where you can add alternate email addresses and phone numbers that can be used by Microsoft to verify your identity whenever a change is made to your account. You can decide if you want Microsoft to text you or call you with your phone number. You need to hit the Next button and enter the verification code that you receive from Microsoft to verify that it was you who just made these changes.
- Step Three: Learn how to check your activity. Go back to the Security page and click on View My Activity. You can take a look at all of the recent log-ins to your account, as well as any changes that have been made. Your password change and added contact information should be listed. However, if you notice any other changes, your account may have been compromised already. If you suspect this has happened, you can click Secure My Account to change your password and review a more detailed listing of your account security.
- Step Four: Consider adding two-step authentication to your account. This is perhaps one of the most effective methods to secure a Microsoft account. Go back to the Security page and click on Set Up Identity Verification App. You will see an option that says Microsoft Authenticator. Click the link that says Get It Now. This app is available for Android, iOS, and Apple Watch devices. Once the app is set up, you can sign in to your Microsoft account and use the Authenticator app to confirm a code or the approval notification that was sent to your phone or email address instead of having to use your password.
What Else Can You Do?
One of the best ways to ensure that your vital information, passwords, email contacts, and other essential company data are secure is to work with our Greater Boston IT solutions. Synivate offers a myriad of options designed to meet the needs of small, medium, and large-size corporations in the Greater Boston area. Whether you want to secure a Microsoft account or learn how to use a secure password manager tool for your team, our highly trained and experienced technicians can help you to achieve your goals. We can also work with you to create custom, innovative technology solutions based on your unique requirements. If you are interested in learning more about all that Synivate has to offer, give us a call at 617-517-0704.