Google has updated its Authenticator app, which adds the feature of safely backing up one-time codes (OTP) to users’ Google Accounts. This comes as the search giant continues to make efforts to push towards a passwordless future while maintaining internet security.
It said in an announcement that Google Authenticator was released in 2010 as a free way for Sites to add two-factor authentication (2FA). However, over the years, users have reported difficulty in dealing with lost or stolen devices that had Google Authenticator installed, as one-time codes were only stored on a single device. With this update, Google Authenticator solves this problem by storing one-time codes more durably in users’ Google Account, increasing convenience and security.
Google has been driving multiple options for secure authentication across the Web, including Google Password Manager, which helps users save passwords and sign in faster, and Sign in with Google, which allows users to sign in to a Site or app using their Google Account. Additionally, Google has been working with its industry partners and the FIDO Alliance to develop even more convenient and secure authentication offerings to users in the form of passkeys. The update to Google Authenticator with Google Account synchronization means users are better protected from lockout and services can rely on users retaining access.
Google’s efforts to make technology for everyone also means protecting everyone who uses it. Signing in to online accounts is the primary entry point for risks, and Google’s built-in authentication tools and automatic protections, such as alerts when a Google Account is being accessed from a new device, make signing into Google and other apps and services simple and secure. With the update to Google Authenticator, users can now backup their one-time codes to their Google Account, increasing both convenience and security.
Image credit: Google
