What are the Best Ways to Protect your Xbox Account? - Ultimate Guide

For many gamers, their Xbox Live accounts are a prized possession. Some people pump thousands of dollars into upgrading their games and getting extra features, making these accounts highly valuable in certain circumstances.

In 2020, more than 1.2 million Microsoft accounts were hacked, highlighting how the company is a major target of cybercriminals. This serves as a reminder that everyone needs to put measures in place to ensure that their accounts are as safe and secure as possible.

Use a Strong Password and Two-Factor Authentication

One of the main reasons why many users’ accounts aren’t secure is because they have weak passwords in place. Research from ExpressVPN has highlighted how a lot of people go for passwords they can remember over ones that offer top security. Each country has a common password used by many different people, and there is a shared favorite around the world as well.

It is strongly advised that every internet user has a strong password as the first wall of defense for their account. This should consist of a combination of random numbers, letters, and symbols, and should be sufficiently long as well. You can use a password manager to store these codes, so that you don’t have to try to recall them yourself.

Microsoft reported that the big security breach of 2020 could have been avoided if more users had employed two-factor authentication. This is another protocol that can add an extra layer of protection on your account, and it’s something that everyone should activate. It may seem like an inconvenience, but if it is protecting your valuable account, it’s worth it.

Beware of Phishing Scams

One of the most common ways that hackers try to get hold of people’s personal data is through phishing scams. Spanning suggests that these are responsible for more than 80 percent of security breaches, highlighting how successful they are. Indeed, 30 percent of phishing emails are opened.

It may seem obvious not to fall for phishing emails or messages, but sometimes the hackers may be quite convincing. They may sometimes offer upgrades or access to games in exchange for personal details, for instance.

Don’t Share your Account with Friends

You could put all the correct security protocols in place and then undo all your hard work by sharing your account with a friend. No matter how close you are to someone, giving them your log-on credentials to any account online is a bad idea.

Even if you trust the person completely, they may not have the same levels of protection that you have on your device. If they fail to keep their operating system up to date, or if they fall victim to a phishing scam, you could see your security defenses breached.

Keeping your Xbox Live account safe should be one of your highest priorities, and there are plenty of ways to ensure that you do so. A strong password and two-factor authentication are crucial. You should also keep your operating system up to date and beware of phishing scams.