Cyber Awareness
Back in May of this year, Google announced to the world that it was planning to enable two-factor authentication or two-step verification as it is also known for many users as a way of enhancing security. So, with Cybersecurity Awareness Month in full swing, Google has announced yet again, that it will be enabling two-factor authentication for 150 million more accounts by the time that 2021 is out.
10% Not Enough
In 2018, Google said that only one in ten of its active accounts were actually using two-factor authentication. Since then, it has been pushing and encouraging people to implement the setting as a way of tightening security. Another part of the process will require over two million YouTube creators to make use of two-factor authentication in order to protect their channels from takeover. They have also made it known that they are working closely with organisations to give away over 10,000 hardware security keys each year. As part of the push for two-factor, Google has made the technology easily accessible and available on your phone, regardless of whether you use Android or iPhone.
Password Manager
Another tool that can help to improve security for users is the ability to use a password manager and Google has claimed that it is now checking more than a billion passwords each day through a built-in manager for Chrome, Android and the Google apps. The password manager is also available on iOS and this gives chrome the ability to autofill logins for other apps. Google has also announced that it will soon help users to generate passwords for other apps, making things even easier for users. Furthermore, users will soon be able to see all of their stored passwords directly through the Google app menu.
Account Management
Finally, Google is placing an emphasis on the Inactive Account Manager that it offers. This requires users to make a decision about what happens to their account if they choose to stop using it or are no longer around to make the decisions for themselves. The feature was added back in 2013 and that means that users can add a timeout feature, giving them the chance to choose from three months to 18 months of no use before the protocols from the Inactive Account Manager are enforced.
Just in case users switched accounts and forgot their login, Google will send an email a month prior to the end of the limit. Users can then decide whether to have their details deleted or whether to forward them to other contacts who can take care of things on your behalf. It is understood that they also made it known that an inactive account caused the Colonial Pipeline attack during the early part of this year and that you shouldn’t leave any digital information simply lying around for hackers to take advantage of.
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