Periodically check the devices logged into your account and any authorized apps, then remove the ones you no longer use
Original: eternity4719 · source details
Original author: eternity4719 · Chinese source: · English adaptation: parveen0029. Translation and grade notes ↗
Bibliographic titles are retained in their original language.
Source author's views and grades; not individually verified by this site.
Cost and benefit at a glance
- Check the cost Cost ↓
- No cost at all. It only takes a few minutes each time. The hard part is that there’s no reminder — you have to remember to do it yourself.
- Then the source benefit Benefit ↓
- The device list shows current account access, while authorized apps are third-party services allowed to use it. Unknown devices and unused linked apps are visible warning signs. Th…
In plain terms
The logged-in-device list shows phones and computers that can still access an account. If unfamiliar devices or long-unused linked apps appear, change the password and sign out all sessions. Check email for forwarding rules you did not create.
This guide's cartoon · show illustration
Enlarge illustrationOriginal illustration with Chinese lettering; the English dialogue is below. Humour is a reading aid, not evidence.
English dialogue
- One password for everything?
- So every door takes the same key?
Cost: what it takes
No cost at all. It only takes a few minutes each time. The hard part is that there’s no reminder — you have to remember to do it yourself.
Benefit: what the source reports
The device list shows current account access, while authorized apps are third-party services allowed to use it. Unknown devices and unused linked apps are visible warning signs. The UK National Cyber Security Centre lists unfamiliar locations and unusual login times among signs to check after compromise. Attackers may add email-forwarding rules to receive copies of messages and reset passwords. Its recovery sequence is to remove unrecognized forwarding rules, change the password, and sign out devices and applications. Subsequent access requires the new password. The US Federal Trade Commission also recommends signing out all devices and removing unauthorized forwarding after recovery. These are recovery guides; the suggestion to check periodically is the author's practice.
Conditions, limits and disagreements
Device/session controls are available in services such as WeChat, Alipay, email, Apple and Android accounts. When an unfamiliar device appears, change the password and then sign out all sessions, following the NCSC sequence. Grade C reflects official operating guidance rather than research measuring losses prevented by periodic checks.
Original references
Original bibliographic titles and links are preserved; some titles are in Chinese.
UK NCSC. Recovering a hacked account. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/recovering-a-hacked-account；US FTC. How To Recover Your Hacked Email or Social Media Account. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recover-your-hacked-email-or-social-media-account；两份都是账号出事以后的处理指南，「隔一段时间主动去看」是作者经验
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