Two-factor authentication — or two-step verification in Google parlance — is a minimum requirement for staying safe online. Google today revealed that it plans to automatically enroll users with “appropriately configured” accounts into 2SV methods, like the Google Prompt.
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Two-factor authentication is something everyone should be using to one extent or another, but especially on their most important accounts. Google makes it easy with a plethora of options, and now the company is making Google Prompt available on each device you’re signed into.
The average person in 2018 is at least aware of two-factor authentication in one form or another. Online banking is the most likely place they’ve encountered it and unfortunately the experience is quite lacking. Ignoring that SMS-based 2FA is not secure, remembering and entering a numeric code is a big inconvenience.
However, it is free, with everyone having a phone — not even needing a smart one — the adoption of two-factor in light of countless online threats is only going to increase. If it’s inevitable, the process should be improved and one way to do that is through security keys.
While Cloud Next is traditionally a software-focussed event, Google last month announced its own line of two-factor authentication (2FA) devices. Titan Security Keys are primarily aimed at high-value IT administrators, but Google is also making them widely available through the Google Store for any security-conscious user to purchase.