In the wake of several cyberattacks and hacks, Google is planning to bring a better security tool to the two-step authentication security feature.
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According to a report by Bloomberg, Alphabet Inc’s Google will be offering a security program called the Advanced Protection Program. This program is meant to block third-party access to email accounts and files stored in Google Drive.
The report also said that it is expected to continue allowing for a physical USB security key as part of its security suite.
This program is targeted at corporate executives, politicians and celebrities, the people who are most vulnerable to cyber attacks. This program is meant to secure data and emails on an everyday basis.
The most high-profile cyberattack in recent memory targeted John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, in 2016. Hackers stole and exposed over 60,000 of Podesta's emails, which was compromised by a phishing attack.
As per Bloomberg, a Google spokesperson has refused to comment on the new security program.
Google’s two-step authentication or verification security tool includes a password and the user’s phone number. To the user’s phone number, a code is sent for verification.
Two-step authentication is useful when account security is paramount and other tech companies have also enabled the feature for their services. In early 2017, WhatsApp rolled out an update that added Two-Step Authentication to WhatsApp accounts. This feature is an essential method to ensure the safety of WhatsApp accounts. After that Twitter quietly released support for third-party two-factor authentication applications enabling the twitterati to use the app to protect their accounts.
In July, Google removed about 20 Android apps from the Play Store after finding out that they contained a multi-stage spyware product for monitoring and extracting a user's sensitive data like email, text messages, location information, media files etc.
Published Date: Sep 30, 2017 01:05 pm | Updated Date: Sep 30, 2017 01:05 pm
