Google made an announcement on Wednesday regarding the availability of passcodes for high-risk users to join its Enhanced Protection Program (APP).
“In the past, users were required to have a physical security key for APP — now they have the option to select a passcode to safeguard their account,” mentioned Shuvo Chatterjee, product leader of APP, stated.
Passcodes are viewed as a more reliable and phishing-resistant alternate method to passwords. Using the FIDO Authentication standard, this technology is crafted to protect online accounts against potential takeover attempts by moving away from passwords and opting for biometrics or a PIN.
Passcodes can serve as both a first- and second-tier security measure, completely eliminating the necessity for a password. Earlier in May, the technology giant disclosed that passcodes are in use by more than 400 million Google accounts.
High-risk users, who face an increased risk of cyber-attacks due to their role and activities (such as journalists, public officials, political campaign personnel, human rights advocates, and business executives), can verify if they possess a compatible device and browser and finish the enrollment procedure.
“During enrollment, we also ask you to include recovery options (like a phone number and email, or another passcode or security key), a combination of which will assist you in regaining access to your account in case of a lockout,” explained Chatterjee.
In addition, Google mentioned its collaboration with Internews to provide security assistance to journalists and human rights activists. This initiative covers 10 countries, including Brazil, Mexico, and Poland.
This development coincides with Google’s plan to extend dark web reports to all users with a Google account later this month, allowing them to verify if their information has surfaced on the darknet. Previously, this feature was limited to Google One subscribers.
“The dark web report will be accessible to all consumers with a Google Account,” as mentioned in a support document. “This report is integrated with Results about you to provide a holistic solution for users to safeguard their online presence.”
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