Windows 10 tip: Keep your Microsoft account secure and private

Check this page frequently to spot any attempts to access your account.

Click to enlarge

Signing in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account allows you to easily sync settings and files between devices. It's not mandatory (you can sign in using a local account or an Active Directory account on a corporate domain instead), but using a Microsoft account is convenient for anyone who regularly switches between Windows devices.

But that central connection point comes with security and privacy risks. How do you keep your account secure and manage sensitive details like payment information and your personal profile?

The easiest starting point is the Microsoft account dashboard, at http://ift.tt/1DJAjat. After you sign in with your Microsoft account credentials (and verify your identity if necessary), you can use the links on that dashboard to access every account setting.

You can also bookmark specific account settings pages for faster access. Here are a handful worth knowing:

Profile http://ift.tt/1lBCDfI

Manage your personal information, including email addresses and aliases.

Security http://ift.tt/2jQ98pc

Includes links to change your password, update your security information, or view a log of sign-in attempts.

Privacy http://ift.tt/1H6rTNJ

View and manage/clear browsing history, search history, and Cortana's notebook (if signed in to the Microsoft account), as well as location activity and health-related data for connected devices and services.

Activity http://ift.tt/2b9Pbsg

I recommend checking in here at least once a month. It's not unusual to see unsuccessful attempts to sign in from odd places, but if you see a successful sign-in from an unfamiliar place, it's time to lock down your account.

Devices http://ift.tt/1ukQ86e

Every time you sign in to a new Windows device using your Microsoft account, a new entry is created here. You'll find BitLocker recovery keys and detailed information about each device here.

Identity http://ift.tt/1eYKgnR

Did you spot the oddity in the link? The shortcut for this page, which holds your identity settings (including multi-factor authentication devices) is not on the same account.microsoft.com domain as the other shortcuts. Instead, it's on the older (but still valid) live.com domain.

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