Google is currently making plans to enroll about 150 million users into its two-factor authentication scheme by the end of the year in an aim to prevent unauthorized access to accounts and improve security. Google will also be requiring 2 million YouTube creators to switch on the setting which it calls two-step verification (2SV), and this will protect their channel from takeover attacks.
Googles AbdelKarim Mardini and Guemmy Kim in a statement said, combination of the 2SV is one of the strongest form of protection when it combines both ‘something you know’ (like a password) and ‘something you have’ (like your phone or a security key) thus decreasing attackers chances of taking over your account.
In a related security-focused development, Google also said it’s planning on adding a feature in its namesake search app that allows users to access all of the passwords saved in Google Password Manager (“passwords.google.com”) right from the app’s menu, in addition to partnering with organizations to provide free security keys to over 10,000 high-risk users in 2021.
Microsoft has also just recently introduced a passwordless mechanism enabling user to access their accounts without a password by just using Microsoft Authenticator, Windows Hello, a security key, or a verification code sent via SMS or email.
This goes without saying that if you have a dead phone number attached to your google account then its best you get that sorted out by taking it out and putting in a working phone number. This is because if google automatically implements the 2-factor authentication policy on your email address, you might find it a little bit harder to retrieve it.