Nintendo Accounts are a necessity for using a Switch these days. Even if you don’t want to play games online, an account is needed to download games and demos from the online store. If you’re worried about keeping you and your family’s Nintendo accounts secure, you can follow these steps to help you stay safe.
Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
The most basic step to keep your Nintendo account secure is to use the built-in 2-factor authentication feature. This feature means you must have a secondary device, such as a phone, to log into your account. While it’s less convenient, it means hackers are less likely to break through your account’s security.
Log into your Nintendo account and click ‘Sign-In and Security Settings.’ Then, under the ‘Two-Step Verification’ heading, click ‘Edit’ and follow the simple instructions to set-up two-factor authentication.
Be advised: If you are going to use an app instead of your phone number as the 2FA option, then you must ensure you keep backup codes or that you use Authy, the authenticator app, with a cloud backup. If you lose your phone without a backup of your 2FA-codes to log in, you’ll lose access to your account.
Update Your Info
Ensuring you regularly update your information is a major factor in keeping your account safe. Nintendo will ask for accurate personal information if you ever need to recover your account from a hacker. It’ll be difficult for you to provide accurate information if your e-mail, phone number, and date-of-birth are outdated.
Use a Strong Password
Another important part of good security is using a strong password on your Nintendo account. Using personal information, such as a birthday, for your password is a bad idea as hackers can learn information about you online. The strongest passwords are a mix of random letters and numbers.
If you’re concerned about remembering passwords, you can use a password management service. Services like Dashlane and Keeper Security offer services that securely store your passwords. Web browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox also offer this service for free. You can also use password generators to make sure your chosen passwords are as strong as possible.
For more advice when creating your password, check our guide to common password mistakes.
Don’t Share Login Info
It can be tempting to share your login information with someone else, especially if you trust them. However, you should avoid giving out your login information at all costs. Even if you trust the person asking for your information, you can’t be sure they’ll be as careful with it as you are.
Sharing your Nintendo account with someone else also comes with additional problems. Logging your account into a secondary device comes with various restrictions. These restrictions make sharing a login, even in the same household, a challenging prospect.
Monitor Your Sign-In History
A feature of Nintendo accounts you should be using is ‘Sign-In History.’ This feature allows you to keep track of everyone who has recently logged into your account. Regular use of this feature will mean you always know who is using your account and can take immediate action. The page even features a password change option to make your response even quicker.
If you’re worried about your Nintendo account’s security, you can order a security audit here.
Featured image from AFP PHOTO/KAZUHIRO NOGI
