150 Million Google Accounts to be Auto Enrolled in 2FA
Googles said that it will force users to start using two-factor authentication (2FA) to log into ser accounts. This includes Gmail and YouTube accounts. By the end of this year, Google will force 150 million of its users to start using 2FA.
Two-factor authentication means that you need to take an extra step to login into your Gmail, YouTube, Analytics, or other Google account.
Google users will be able to use an authenticator app, a hardware security key, SMS text message to a registered device or an iOS device.
“For years, Google has been at the forefront of innovation in two-step verification (2SV), one of the most reliable ways to prevent unauthorized access to accounts and networks,” says the blog post from Google.
What is Two-Factor Authentication?
What is known to the rest of the world as two-factor authentication or 2FA, is known as two-step verification or 2SV in Google world. It’s the same thing.
Two-factor authentication is a security practice that requires a second step to log in to an online account. For example, you will have to know your password plus respond to a text message sent to your phone to log into Google products. Using 2FA makes accounts more secure but not foolproof.
Methods commonly used for 2FA include fingerprint scans, iris scans, authenticator apps that generate a secure code, and responding to a notification on a connected device.
READ Feds Say Single-Factor Authentication is a Bad Practice
Requiring three or more steps to log in is known as multi-factor authentication or MFA.
“By the end of 2021, we plan to auto-enroll an additional 150 million Google users in 2SV and require 2 million YouTube creators to turn it on.”
