Email addresses are very personal and you should guard your details just the same way you would guard your home address or telephone number.

Before you get started on the online dating process, it is not only important to ensure the security of your computer but it is also vital that you use a safe and secure email address.

Also, email addresses can be very handy for scammers so understanding email security is essential.

Secure Email Tips

SEPARATE EMAIL

During the online dating process, you will be interacting with a number of people and your email address will be your primary form of communication. It is a good idea to set up a brand new email address without using your real name so your identity is not easily identifiable by possible scammers on the website. This way if you ever want to stop communicating with someone online, they will not be able to harass you as your identity will remain a secret.

PASSWORD SECURITY

The security of your email address is primarily dependent on the strength of your password so choose your password wisely. Read our Password Security Tips if you need help choosing a good password. Without adequate password protection, a scammer may even steal your email address and get access to other information you may have stored in your inbox. Another important tip to keep in mind is that you should probably have different passwords for your email address and your online dating account. In case one of the accounts is compromised, the other account will still remain safe if it has a different password.

SECURITY QUESTIONS

To ensure your inbox is well protected, most email providers like Hotmail or Yahoo! will ask you to choose one or two security questions when you set up your email address. These security questions are designed to help you reset your password if you should ever forget it. Common security questions include:

  • What is your pet’s name?
  • What is your date of birth?
  • What was the make of your first car?
  • What city were you born in?
  • What is your mother’s maiden name?
  • What are your children’s nicknames?
  • Who is your favorite author?
  • Best childhood friend?
  • Favorite teacher?
  • Favorite historical person?
  • Grandfather’s occupation?
  • Choose your own security question…

Make yourself familiar with the security questions you attach to your email account. Obviously, like your password your security question should be something you find easy to remember but others will have a hard time guessing. While the standard security questions are fairly straightforward, if someone knows you well enough, they may be able to guess the answers to your security questions as well. If a third person is able to figure out your security questions, they can not only reset your password but can also hijack your account. Additionally, this could also result in identity theft as the hacker could potential gain access to a variety of personal information from your inbox. The best thing to do is choose your own security question which should ideally be something only you would know the answer to, therefore making it hard for a hacker to hijack your account.

PROFILE INFORMATION

When creating your online dating profile, it is important to keep certain security concerns in mind. Always be mindful of what your security questions are and be sure never to include that information in your profile. So, if your security question asks for your pet’s name, remember not to put your pet’s name in your dating profile for all to see – you will only be making it easier for the hacker.

KEEP THINGS SECRET

Keeping your details secret is absolutely vital because fraudsters can use even a little bit of information about you to their advantage. While it is common sense not to give out your password to anyone, many of us don’t think before answering other questions someone might ask us online. Be fully aware of what your security questions are and never divulge that information to anyone.

Scammers and hackers are becoming smarter and they often identify your security questions first following which they strike up a conversation with you online, gradually weaving in the security questions into a normal conversation. For example, your security question may be about the make of your first car. So a scammer might start a conversation about cars and even tell you about their first car in an attempt to get you to reveal the same information to them. Obviously this seems harmless but once you have revealed this information, your email address is immediately compromised.

Keeping your email secure is not rocket science. Just remember not to divulge your personal details to anyone, however innocent the question may seem and you will have no trouble.