GOOGLE users can lower their risk of getting hacked by 50 percent if they use two-factor authentication, experts say.
Google in October, November, and December of 2021, enrolled 150 million users in its two-step account verification system.
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The system comprises a password as well as a second login verification measure (i.e. a confirmation message in a Google app, or a hardware security key).
Two million YouTube users have also automatically been enrolled in the new security process.
The requirement, although tedious to some, paid off in a big way according to Google.
“As a result of this effort, we have seen a 50% decrease in accounts being compromised among those users,” Google wrote in a blog post.
“This decrease speaks volumes to how effective having a second form of verification can be in protecting your data and personal information,” the platform added.
The tech giant also implored users who don’t currently employ the security measure to either turn it on, or they would for them.
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Two-step verification works so that even if a threat actor gets access to your password, they can’t do much with it because of the second verification step.
Despite the method being extremely successful, the company insisted that it’s consistently working on other methods to ensure the safety of its billions of users and their information.
“We’re excited about other ongoing work we’re doing behind the scenes to make our users even safer,” they wrote.
“We are actively working on technologies that provide a secure, seamless sign-in experience and eliminate reliance on passwords – as passwords are often involved in data breaches and phishing attempts, are hard to remember, and are a pain to constantly update,” they added.
How to turn on two-step verification
To turn on two-step verification, first, open your Google Account.
Once in the navigation panel, select ‘Security.’
Just under ‘Signing in to Google,’ select ‘2-Step Verification’ > ‘Get started.’
Then, just follow the on-screen steps.
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In other news, Nasa has upgraded its asteroid hazard software with some key changes that should help it better detect potentially dangerous space rocks.
Nasa has revealed stunning footage of a solar flare in action.
And, the US space agency is planning for a ‘golden asteroid’ probing mission to launch this summer.
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