TASS, October 6. Google has announced plans to make 2-Step Verification mandatory for its 150 million users, as well as YouTube creators. This is stated in a press release released by the company on Tuesday evening.
“By the end of 2021, we plan to automatically register an additional 150 million Google users with 2-Step Verification [system] and require 2 million YouTubers to turn it on,” the post said. The company explained this step with concern for the safety of users.
The release also contains information about work on technologies that “reduce dependence on passwords in the long term.” It is reported that part of this initiative will be the addition of security keys and automatic support for two-step authentication technology on new smartphones, both manufactured by Apple and those running the Android operating system.
With two-step authentication, two steps are sequentially performed to identify a user – for example, entering a password and then a one-time code from SMS. This means that even with someone else's password, an attacker will not be able to use it without a physical device with a unique key.
