QBO Security Tips

Short and sweet bullet points with QBO security tips

I decided to write this post after finding out 2 bookkeeper friends of mine had their QBO Accountant profiles hacked within the last couple months - yikes!

No one wants to spend their time, energy, or stress on the phone with QBO trying to recover their account or determine if their bank accounts have been accessed.

That said, I don't want this to feel like an alarmist blog post. Whenever I hear about online security breaches, I try to do some research and audit my own basic protection to ensure I'm not the "low hanging fruit" target, and I want to share what I've learned with you.

Speaking of "low hanging fruit" ALL my advice covers the basics - nothing groundbreaking here but I hope many business owners can find at least 1 way to upgrade their QBO security.

1. Use a complex, unique password

   Obvious right? But 35% of respondents who had compromised online accounts in 2024 reported using weak passwords, and another 30% reported using a repeat password, according to a very intersting Forbes Advisor survey. Do not join their ranks!

   
   

2. Use a password manager

   I have been using 1Password for years and love it. It takes effort on the front end to set up, but after the initial effort, it has made my life massively easier. I can't remember the last time I was locked out of an account because I couldn't find the password. Many colleagues of mine prefer LastPass. They're both great.

   
   

3. Set up a Passkey or at least 2 Factor Authentication

   Both Passkeys and 2FA are added security layers. I'll be the first to admit I am not an IT guru and don't understand all the details about how these work. I'm just a business owner myself, trying to stay safe online and these two security layers help keep QBO accounts safe.

   
   

4. Create a User ID that is not your email address

   This was the biggest learning for me. If you create a unique User ID that is not your email address, it makes it harder for a hacker to try to evade online security measures and reset your password, locking you out of your own account.

   
   

That's it! Not rocket science, just friendly reminders of the basics. I'd love nothing more than to help even one person avoid the drama and headache of an online security breach.

Are you a nutritionist, coach, personal trainer, or outdoor industry small business owner wanting help getting your business finances better organized? Let’s talk!