Turn on two-factor authentication
Start with your email: it is used to recover access to everything else. Then your bank, messaging apps, social networks and gaming accounts. The step-by-step order is below on this page.
Practical guides
Practical guides
Most hacks and scams start with simple things: a reused password, no second factor, an email that looks genuine. This section collects short guides that close the most common gaps. They are written in general terms: every service names its menu items differently, so check the help pages of the specific service. This is also where the catalogue of standalone articles will live.
Half an hour setting up protection today costs far less than weeks spent recovering an account tomorrow.
How this section works: we describe actions in general terms, without tying them to particular brands and without advertising. Look up the exact names of settings in your service's official help. We do not and will never ask you for passwords, codes or card details.
Guides
Five actions that noticeably improve your protection and help you avoid being scammed.
Set up a password manager
Choose a password manager, set a long master password, move your passwords into it and gradually replace reused ones with unique ones.
Check your email for breaches
Breach-checking services show whether your address has appeared in known data breaches. If it has, change the password there and on every site where you reused it.
Spot a phishing email
Check the sender's address and the link before you click. Urgency, threats to block your account and requests to enter a password or code are the main signs of a fake.
Verify an employee's or candidate's diploma
Ask the candidate for the document details and check them with the issuing university or the competent authority — in Russia, via the Rosobrnadzor service and the FRDO register.
Article catalogue for English-language readers
This section will feature standalone articles written for English-language readers. They are written with their needs in mind and are not translations of material from other language versions of the site.
- Aion 2 fresh-cap checklist: Player Guide and Key Considerations
What reaching the cap in Aion 2 usually means, a practical fresh-cap checklist, and how to judge paid help without risking your account or breaking the rules.
- GTA 6 News Tracking and Fact Checking: Player FAQ
A player FAQ on checking GTA 6 news: what Rockstar has confirmed, how to spot fake leaks, bogus beta or pre-order offers, and phishing aimed at fans.
- A closer look at gaming services and player resources: Consumer Decision-Making
How to weigh free guides, community help and paid gaming services as a consumer: key questions, practical scenarios, risks to accounts and rules to check.
- Diablo IV: Endgame Progression And Gearing — Beginner Checklist
A beginner checklist for Diablo IV endgame progression and gearing: core goals, preparation steps, self-play versus paid help, and account-safety checks.
Topics the editors are planning
- How to keep your gaming account from being stolen
- How to tell a genuine bank text or email from a phishing attempt
- Recovery scams: why nobody can get your lost money back for a fee
- How to check that an online course or degree provider is legitimate
Editorial rules
- Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
- Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
- We do not publish service rankings, promises of earnings or unverifiable reviews.
How to turn on two-factor authentication
Open your security settings
Sign in through the official app or a website address you type yourself, not via a link in an email. Find the security or sign-in section.
Choose a second-factor method
If you have a choice, prefer an authenticator app or a hardware key. SMS is better than nothing but weaker than the other methods.
If the service only offers SMS, turn it on, and check later whether other methods have become available.
Link your device
Follow the service's prompts: scan the code in your app or insert the key. Enter the verification code to confirm the setup.
Save your backup codes
Most services provide backup codes in case you lose your phone. Keep them separately from your phone — for example, in a password manager or on paper in a safe place.
Test signing in
Sign out and sign back in to make sure the second factor works. Never share codes with anyone — neither your bank nor customer support will ask for them.
Related sections
- Tools
Types of protection tools: password managers, authenticator apps, hardware keys, breach checks, backups.
- Comparisons
Comparing second-factor methods and ways of storing passwords: strengths and weaknesses.
- Security
Common fraud schemes: sellers of documents, pyramid schemes, "easy money", phishing, fake tech support.
Sources
- NIST SP 800-63B
- Rosobrnadzor — FRDO (Federal Register of Education Documents)
- Bank of Russia — financial literacy materials
Laws, bank rules and service features change. This information is based on official sources as of the preparation date — check the current versions of laws and the instructions of the services themselves.