Google improves Android two-step verification by turning phone into security key

[gurutek]

Google seems to be putting more effort than ever into keeping Android users safe and sound against both potentially harmful applications and good old fashioned hackers. At the same time, traditional passwords are gearing up to go the way of the dodo, making space for more sophisticated methods of authentication, and now two-step verification is taken to the next level of convenience with a simple new feature.

This is all part of the search giant's grand plan to make our digital lives safer and easier, as the latest technology unveiled yesterday essentially makes physical security keys obsolete. That's because any Android phone running OS version 7.0 and up can basically become a security key now to add an extra layer of protection to your Google Account sign-ins.

Of course, two-step verification (or 2SV) has been around for a long time, allowing users to strengthen their passwords with things like text message codes and push notifications. While that's definitely preferable to using no second verification step to log into your account, it's also pretty vulnerable to modern phishing attacks. The same goes for your actual password, which is why you should absolutely buy a physical security key if you're worried about hacks... or simply use what you already have in your pocket to protect your account.