SAFEWORDS.IOEVERYDAY SECURITY / 01

Weekend security
checkup

Keep others out. Keep a way back in.

Start with your email and password manager. Check the details you set years ago.

Protect your way in

Give every important account its own password

Use a password manager, replace reused passwords, and protect the vault itself.
Set up passkeys where supported

Use phishing-resistant sign-in and find out where each passkey lives.
Register a spare security key if you use one

A spare only helps after you register it with each account that needs it.
Turn on a second factor where needed

For password sign-ins, add the strongest supported authentication you can maintain.

Check recovery emails and phone numbers

Open security settings on your oldest, most important accounts. Check the actual details.
Save recovery codes somewhere reachable

Keep a secure copy outside the phone or account it is meant to recover.
Check for a circular recovery path

Your backup cannot depend entirely on the thing you are trying to recover.
Plan for an unavailable account owner

Give the right person appropriate access before an emergency.

Update devices, browsers, and apps

Install supported updates from official settings and turn on automatic updates where practical.
Protect your phone number at the carrier

Review the carrier account PIN and SIM-change or number-transfer protections.
Review who and what can access your accounts

Check signed-in devices, connected apps, forwarding rules, and security alerts.

Agree on a safeword and a callback plan

Practice verifying an unexpected request before sending money or sensitive information.
Restore one file from your backup

Check that important files have a separate backup you can actually use.
Keep the essentials available offline

Prepare important contacts, documents, and basic supplies for an interruption.

Could you get back in without your phone?

A backup only helps if you can reach it without the missing device or locked account.