Protect Your Account using Google 2-Step Verification or Two-Factor Authentication
Google 2-step verification or Two-Factor Authentication helps protect your Google account by adding another layer of protection to it. If you use Google 2-step verification and your Google username and password are stolen by a hacker, that hacker will not be able to login into your account. This is because the hacker will also need your Google verification code (added layer of protection) which will only be sent to your mobile phone. This verification method is a little tedious, but I recommend it, especially if you sign into your Google account from public or other computers while traveling.
What is Google 2-Step Verification?
This is the process of configuring your Google account to ask for a verification code that Google will send to your mobile phone via a SMS text message or a voice mail upon login. This process helps protect you against a hacker who may use a malicious program to infect your computer and steal your Google username and password. With Google 2-step verification, that same hacker will also have to steal your mobile phone in order to gain access to your Google account, which is virtual impossible.
This 2-step verification process is not new and you have used it before, at the ATM. When doing a transaction at the ATM, you must have your ATM card and PIN number in order to do a transaction. So, if someone steals your ATM PIN number (username and password), they will also need to have your ATM card (mobile phone) in order to withdraw money from your account.
Also, some banks are using this method to verify online transactions. When a customer of the bank carries out a transaction using their online banking account, a verification code is sent via text message to that person’s mobile phone. This verification code must be entered in the customer’s account in order for the bank to carry out the transaction.
For more information about Google 2-step verification, please click here.
If you want to add this extra layer of protection to your Google account, please click here.
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