If you are using your Google Account without two-factor authentication, well Google is all ready to do it for you so don’t get shocked when you see it enabled. Google is known to be a managed service provider in terms of security.
Google declared last Tuesday that by the end of the year, 150 million users would have been automatically enrolled in the company’s “two-step verification” system. Anyone attempting to access the impacted Google accounts will require both the registered passwords and access to the account holder’s mobile number.
Google has been planning to launch this feature for a long time. It first announced its plan to automatically enroll users in the two-factor authentication system in May. However, at the time, the firm merely stated that the plan will be executed “soon,” without revealing any other details to users.
It’s uncertain whether Google has been automatically registering people since then. However, the firm expressly highlighted the $150 million number that makes people more curious. In a blog post, Google Chrome Product Manager Abdelkarim Mardini and Account Security Director Guemmy Kim stated that by the end of 2021, we plan to auto-enroll an additional 150 million Google users in 2SV and we will be needing at least 2 million YouTube producers to turn it on.”
The aim of Google is to secure accounts by stopping hacking. To combat account hijacking, Google is enrolling a large number of people automatically. A large number of hackers can frequently get access to internet accounts by correctly guessing passwords using software tools or by finding re-used login credentials from previous data breaches that result in a vast number of account hacks.
A two-factor authentication system, on the other hand, can thwart an intrusion attempt by forcing anyone logging in to give the second form of user verification, which generally includes the account holder’s smartphone creating a one-time passcode (OTP). It must be entered while logging in and only usable once.
However, Google’s way is a little different. After the correct password is entered, Google will send a notification to your phone. The login procedure will then be completed by tapping the word “yes” on the popup screen.
According to Google’s statement on Tuesday, “2SV has been essential to Google’s own security procedures, and now we make it easy for our customers with Google, which needs a simple touch on your mobile device to confirm it’s actually you attempting to sign in.”
However, this comes with its own limitation. Users will be automatically enrolled in the 2SV system only if they have recovery information saved in their accounts, such as an alternative phone number or email address. IT company is providing cheap email hosting for people all over the world. As today’s 2SV alternatives aren’t suited for everyone, so they are working on technologies that give a convenient, secure authentication experience and, in the long run, eliminate the need for passwords.
If you don’t want to use Google’s two-factor authentication, you may disable it in your account settings. The 2SV prompt should only display when you’re logging into a device for the first time. It should not appear on devices you routinely use and trust.
