Security should always be our topmost priority especially when it comes to our online accounts where we input most of our personal information. With so many online engagements, some of us tend to create the same login details for all our accounts for easy and faster access without knowing the risk it may bring. Technology is rapidly growing and hackers are embracing new ways to steal our information. Google product owners often use the one Google account for almost all the Google products they access from Gmail to YouTube and more. Therefore, if one account has been hacked, all others are at great risk. Luckily, Google comes with the Google Authenticator app to add an extra level of protection for their accounts.

How Does Google Authenticator Work

The mere purpose of Google Authenticator is to add an extra level of protection to your accounts. Google Authenticator generates 2-Step Verification codes on your phone. Interestingly, this method provides stronger security for your Google Account by requiring a second step of verification when you sign in. With this Google Authenticator app, users will have another authentication before fully accessing their account. Aside from your usual login details, the app will set up another authentication to verify the user.

Google Authenticator is using the Time-based One-time Password Algorithm (TOTP) and HMAC-based One-time Password algorithm (HOTP) to generate your password. Once you have downloaded the app, you will be asked to set up or configure the setting to add the accounts that you want to be part of this 2 step verification process. The verification can be done either via Scan barcode or manual entry (users only have to pick one).

The Advantage of Using Google Authenticator

Some of you might think that this is such a lengthy and time-consuming process but setting up a 2 step verification will keep your accounts safe from any hackers. You certainly don’t want your private information to be accessed by anyone without your permission or worse, you do not want to lose your access to any of it. With Google Authenticator, you will absolutely get another level of protection. With Google Authenticator 2 verification process, potential hackers’ mere knowledge of username and password is not sufficient to break into your account; the attacker also needs knowledge of the shared secret key or physical access to the device running the Authenticator app

Verdict

Google Authenticator might sound a little complicated but it is surprisingly simple and it comes with a very straightforward purpose and that is to protect your Google accounts from any potential hackers. Take note that some sites can be very deceiving and our accounts can be easily hacked without our knowledge. If you are using the same login details for all your accounts, you must really consider having Google Authenticator on your device. This app also works well even without an Internet connection. Currently, Google Authenticator is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Download Google Authenticator