Here is why you must set up two-factor authentication (also called 2-step verification, or simply “2FA”) wherever you can. Many places now offer it, including Facebook, Paypal, Twitter, and, of course, Gmail (Google). You may in fact remember the story of how Naoki Hiroshima lost their Twitter account, valued at $50,000, to a hacker. Basically the hacker managed to get into and redirect Hiroshima’s email domain, allowing the hacker to do password resets on some of Hiroshima’s accounts, and intercept the password reset emails. It’s very easy for someone to do a password reset on an account if they have the email address, however with 2-factor authentication is becomes a lot harder.

Your eyes may glaze over when anybody mentions Google two-step SMS verification (also known in some circles as Google 2-Factor Authentication), but in reality, if you have any sort of Google account (Gmail, etc.), and a cell phone to get a text message, it’s easy as pie to set up. It is certainly far easier to set up than it is to deal with the aftermath of someone hacking into your Google account.