Data Backup Digest

Storing things in the cloud is never one hundred per cent secure. Dropbox is one of the most popular services out there and is strongly protected, but it’s been very vulnerable over the years. If you’re a Dropbox user then there are several steps it is recommended you take in order to make your account more secure. These are simple and easy to perform procedures that won’t take very long to carry out. Following this guide will help give your account better protection against online vulnerability. Besides, when you’re putting your data online, you want it to be as secure as possible.
Enable two-step verification
The first step you should take is to enable two-step verification. This means that whenever you sign in to the Dropbox website or link a new device, you’ll need to enter both your password and a security code that gets sent to your mobile phone. The code is only valid for a certain length of time, which means that even if someone knows your password then they won’t get into your Dropbox account without also having your phone.
To turn on two-step verification, first log in to your Dropbox account and navigate to ‘Settings’. From here, click the ‘Security’ tab and then next to ‘Two-step verification’ click ‘Enable’. Follow the guide to set up the protection.
You can either get the security code sent to you via text message or through an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator or Duo Mobile). You’ll also be given a 16 character emergency code. This is to be used if you’re unable to generate a fresh security code for whatever reason. It should go without saying that you need to treat this emergency code like a password – don’t reveal it and don’t put it in an obvious place.
Keep an eye on your account
You should regularly check your Dropbox account to make sure that nothing untoward is happening. Dropbox track all devices and web sessions that have had access to your account. To view the list, log in to Dropbox and go to ‘Settings’ and then ‘Security. This page will show you the list and tell you when the most recent activity on the device or browser was.
If there’s activity you don’t recognise then click the ‘Unlink’ button to remove the access to your account. Also be sure to instantly update your password and make sure your email address hasn’t been compromised.
You can also check up on linked apps. On the same ‘Settings’ page, click the ‘My apps’ tab. You will be presented with a list of apps with access to your account. If you no longer need an app then be sure to remove it from this list to unlink it from your account. Also, remove an app if you hear about any security breaches from the developer or community.
Be notified by email
On the ‘Security’ tab on the ‘Settings’ page you can enable email notifications. You can choose to be notified when a new device and/or app is linked to your account. It’s worthwhile to have these enabled since it’ll give you an instant heads up if someone is trying to tamper with your account (providing they haven’t disabled these notifications prior!).