Microsoft Advertising: Steps to safer online experience

​​​​​​​Here are important safety links to help protect your Microsoft account:

• Security hub for customers
• How to help keep your Microsoft account safe and secure

Here are a few recommendations on protecting your Microsoft account and Microsoft Advertising data:

1. Create your Microsoft account using an email that you already have and use frequently. You will be less likely to forget your credentials and your email account acts as a proof of identity on the Microsoft account.
2. Don’t use a password that is the same or similar to one you use on any other website. A cybercriminal who can break into that website can steal your password from it and use it to steal your Microsoft account. 
3. Don’t use a single word (for example, “prince”) or a commonly-used phrase (for example, “Iloveyou”). 
4. Do make your password hard to guess even by those who know a lot about you (such as the names and birthdays of your friends and family, your favorite bands, and phrases you like to use). Longer passwords are more difficult to crack – consider using phrases with a combination of numbers or special characters.
5. If you haven’t already, consider setting up two-step verification. Two-step verification helps protect you by making it more difficult for someone else to sign into your Microsoft account. It uses two different forms of identity: your password, and a contact method (also known as security info), but we recommend three different forms of identity, just in case.
6. Download and use the Microsoft Authenticator app. This will add an extra layer of protection by presenting an authentication challenge whenever your credentials are accessed from an unrecognized location.  Combined with two-step verification, your password along with your fingerprint, face recognition, or pin will be required to access your Microsoft Account from a new location.

1. ​​​​​​ Be cautious when granting other users access to your Microsoft Advertising account: changes made by authorized users are considered legitimate and undisputable regardless of the cardholder's knowledge of any changes. Ensure all users granted access have enabled two-step verification, added a phone number, and downloaded the authenticator app.
2. Avoid sharing your username and account details in public forums and social media – use direct messaging (DM).

Official Microsoft Advertising email communications will never ask for your password, nor will we ever send an email asking you to verify personal information.

1. Unsolicited emails may look as though they’re coming from a company you're familiar with, Microsoft included, and the email may ask you to click on a link and "sign in" or enter other personal information such as your credit card number, email address, and password. You should never provide this kind of personal information without validating the URL.
2. When clicking on links in email, verify the landing page URL by hovering over the link prior to clicking on it
3. Don’t open attachments in email unless you verify the URL and you know the sender. Be cautious of any emails requesting credentials or directing you to a domain which requires credentials to view the content
4. Be careful of cold calls and tech support sites. For more information about tech support scams, and how to report them, visit https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4013405/windows-protect-from-tech-support-scams.

1. Bookmark any site which you access regularly and requires credentials to reduce the risk of accidentally landing on a phishing page. Microsoft Advertising URL is https://ads.microsoft.com, please bookmark this site and use the bookmark to access your advertising account
2. Ensure that you are using a secure connection any time you are entering any sensitive information. The URL should start with “https”, indicating the site is secure.
3. Please use different passwords for different sites requiring credentials and don’t write down your passwords or save them through unsecure apps.
4. If you come across a phishing page, you can report it to Microsoft using Edge browser Help and Feedback.

If you’re using Windows, your PC is already being monitored by Windows Defender.  Otherwise, be sure to scan your computer often for viruses or harmful programs. Harmful programs could have been downloaded from an unsafe website and, once in your computer, log your keystrokes and browsing history.