A new initiative from Google has expanded two-step verification (2SV) for log-ins to enhance account security after its recent introduction of two step verification ( 2SV) saw a 50% drop in account breaches across 150 million Gmail accounts, as well as two million YouTube creator accounts.
In the 2SV, users must confirm their identity each time they log into their Google Account from a different device by using their mobile phones.
As part of this year’s global Safer Internet Day campaign, “Together for a better Internet,” Google is actively developing new technologies to secure and streamline sign-ins by eliminating reliance on passwords that have been found to be a major cause of data breaches. It is not uncommon for users to forget their passwords and to have to update them frequently.
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Dawn Dimowo, Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager at Google Nigeria, explained how the company goes beyond just plugging security holes, to removing entire classes of threats for those who use its services. “Today alone, billions of people around the world will use our products to help with things big and small from conducting e-payment transactions or teaching an online class full of students. It is our responsibility to keep users’ personal information safe and secure.”
Tools such as Security Checkup by Google provide users with useful tips on increasing their account’s security. Google accelerated its efforts in 2021 to eliminate password threats by offering users auto-enrollment in 2SV, a layer of security that provides people with another layer of protection when hackers attempt to hack into their accounts. Over 1.5 billion security checks have been conducted through the initiative.
“This decrease speaks volumes to how having a second form of verification can be effective in protecting your data and personal information. And while we are proud of these initial results, and happy with the response we have received from our users and the community, we are excited about other ongoing behind the scenes work intended to make our users even safer,” Dimowo concluded.
