Gmail Security: Gmail Security Checklist by Google

Google now offers a security checklist for Gmail users. Google is advising Gmail users on how to secure their accounts by having them go through a checklist of tasks that involve following basic security principles and verifying Gmail specific options. Its a five-part process with multiple steps in each designed to reclaim the feeling that nobody can get into your inbox. It starts out obvious (security updates, plug-ins, passwords) then gets into trickier tactics.  Google has shown an increased concern over the security of Gmail users after a spying attack has targeted its network earlier this year. The list is split into five parts, each containing several tasks. As the users go through them and check the completed items, they are kept informed about their progress.  Part 1: Your computer: The first part concerns general computer security and instructs people to scan for malware, update their operating system and install updates for third party popular applications, like Adobe Reader, Flash Player and Java.
 Part 2: Your browser: The second part refers to the security of the browser used to access the Gmail account. Google advises users to keep their browsers up to date and to be very careful about add-ons that require their Google Account credentials. Part 3: Your Google Account: The 3rd part, users are asked to change their password twice a year, review the websites that have access to their account from the "My Account > Change authorized websites" menu and also update password recovery options like alternate email, mobile phone or secret question.Part 4: Your Gmail settings: In part four deals with actual Gmail settings. These include enabling the "always use HTTPS" option, as well as checking the "Filters" and the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" settings to make sure that emails are not being forwarded to other accounts. The company also suggests verifying the "Send Mail As", "Get mail from other accounts", and "Grant access to your account" options, as well as checking the "Last Account Activity" list for suspicious IP addresses. Part 5: Final Reminders: This is last part of the checklist is called "Final Reminders" and contains general advices like not giving out login information to other websites, always logging out after reading email or clearing browser cookies, cache, stored passwords and autocomplete data periodically. The Gmail security checklist can be accessed by clicking on the Help link from the email account and then the checklist one in the left menu or visit directly Gmail Security Checklist.