Two-factor authentication: it just works
In December 2021, Google decided to start enabling two-factor authentication on all its accounts in order to improve its security and prevent improper access to its users’ information. Now, some two months later, the company says that as a result of convincing more than 150 million users to adopt this approach to security strategy, account intrusions have been reduced by half. The company will continue to roll out two-factor authentication throughout 2022.
Two-factor authentication (2FA or 2SV, two-step verification), which requires entering a key received through an additional system or device, is a major improvement to security. The only dilemma is how to ensure that this process is not too burdensome: Murphy’s Law means it’s usually required at the least convenient moment.
In the case of Google, two-factor authentication is reasonably simple and versatile, and usually only requested when a login attempt is made on a device other than the one normally used. The company offers a wide range of possibilities for sending the confirmation request, from a simple SMS or a prompt, to the use of a specific authentication application — I use the one from my password manager, LastPass Authenticator, but there are many others , including Google’s— or even a pocket device or authentication token issued also by Google or from other manufacturers.
