Celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Google Sets Two-Factor Authentication As Standard

Google will use two-factor authentication for all accounts. (photo: doc. unsplash)

JAKARTA – Google is celebrating Cybersecurity Awareness Month by sharing more information about two-factor authentication. Cybersecurity has become a bigger issue in recent years, as users care more than ever about protecting themselves.

Unfortunately, as people continue to share more and more online, the threat of sensitive information falling into the wrong hands is deepening.

Now Google is doing what it can to help fight this case. Earlier this year, the company will make two-factor authentication login the standard going forward. At the time, Google emphasized the importance of extra security measures.

Now, Google has revealed it will configure 150 million accounts by the end of the year and requires two million YouTube creators to enable two-step verification. One thing Google has done to persuade users to add features before is to make the process very easy.

Users just need to tap on their mobile device while logging in. This system may not work for everyone, which is why Google is working on technology to make the process more convenient.

The company is currently registering accounts automatically that "have proper backup mechanisms". Users should perform a quick Google Security Check to ensure their settings are up to date.

How to Keep Google Account Safe

Part of Google's security work involves generating security keys. This requires authentication for suspicious login attempts. They have partnered "with organizations to provide free security keys to more than 10,000 high-risk users this year."

Android users also have automatic access to this security lock, and Apple device users can use the Google Smart Lock app. According to Google, more than two billion devices support this security key that uses two-step verification sign-in.

Account holders must use Google Password Manager on Chrome, Android and Google App. This program keeps passwords safe across all sites and applications. Users can create stronger passwords without having to worry about remembering them or repeating them. With this software, Google also "checks the security of one billion passwords to protect accounts from being hacked."

iOS users can log in with one tap by selecting Chrome to autofill passwords. Google also made an update that allows Apple users to generate strong passwords like those available on Android. Another update in the works is the ability to access all passwords stored in Password Manager via the Google Apps menu.

Google has also launched another feature to keep accounts secure, namely Google Identity Service. The system uses secure tokens instead of passwords to log into partner sites like Reddit and Pinterest.

This new feature represents "the future of authentication and protects against vulnerabilities such as click hijacking, pixel tracking, and other web-based and application threats." To learn more about Google's work to protect its user accounts, visit its Security Center.