Logging into your Google Account is about to get a bit more complicated
Mandatory two-step verification is coming to Google Accounts
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New details have emerged regardingGoogle’s plan to make two-factor authentication (2FA) mandatory for Google Accounts by the end of this year.
The search giant first announced its plans tomake 2FA mandatoryto commemorate World Password Day back in May. While using apassword generatorto create strong and unique passwords and apassword managerto store them can help protect your online accounts, having a second form of authentication dramatically decreases an attacker’s chances of gaining access to them.
Google has been innovating in two-step verification (2SV) which is quite similar to 2FA for years now and according to the company, 2SV is the strongest when it “combines something you know” like a password with “something you have” such as your smartphone or a security key.
As part of its efforts to further secure its users' accounts, Google revealed in ablog postlast month that it would auto-enroll an additional150m usersin 2SV and requireYouTubecreators to turn the feature on. Now though, we finally have a date for when the company will make 2SV mandatory for Google accounts.
Automatically activated
According to anew reportfromHTnovo, text in Google’s apps suggests that 2SV will become mandatory for Google Accounts beginning on November 9.
In a new notification sent out toGmailandAndroid smartphoneusers, the search giant provided more details on the upcoming change, saying:
“After entering the password, you will need to complete a second step on the phone. Keep your phone handy when you log in. Two-Step Verification will be activated automatically on November 9th. If you want, you can activate this feature first: your account is ready.”
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While Google has given users plenty of time to enroll in its 2SV program, those that haven’t will be auto-enrolled early next week. Although it may be a bit more complicated to login into your Google Account going forward, your account and the data it contains will be more secure and better protected from hackers.
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ViaMSPoweruser
After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.
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