Keep your personal information safe with two levels of security.

A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.

Two-step authentication protects your Yahoo email account against suspicious login attempts and hacking.

Despite the methods sophistication, Yahoo makes enabling it quite easy.

For example, your banks website might require more than a username and password; you might also be prompted to identify a picture that you chose previously, to prove that you are who you claim to be.

Alternatively, some sites such as Yahoo require authentication on a separate device, such as your phone.

The Yahoo Mail service checks the password when somebody attempts to log in to an account; it also looks at the location and computer from which the attempt is made.

If one looks suspicious (for example, a login from a device youve never used before), it can require more than the password, but only if two-step authentication is enabled.

Your Yahoo Mail account is then as secure as your password and access to your mobile phone.

To add a second layer of authentication for suspicious log-in attempts, log in to your Yahoo Mail account, then.

Depending on the method you chose, youll receive a text or phone call with the verification code.

Type the code into the dialog box that appears onscreen after you choose the method of contact, then select Verify.

If the numbers match, a success dialog box appears with options to Create app passwords for apps that dont recognize or use two-step authentication.

From now on, youll be prompted for an authentication code when logging in.

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