Significant Gmail Update Will Transform Your Email Experience
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In another update, Google will soon change the login process for nearly 2 billion Gmail users as part of a major security improvement. Currently, users verify their identity through SMS text messages, but this method will be replaced in the coming months by a QR code system. Google aims to address the serious issues related to SMS abuse that have become widespread globally.
Ross Richendrfer, a member of Google’s security and privacy team, explained that just as they are trying to move beyond traditional passwords with innovations like passkeys, they are also shifting away from using SMS messages for authentication. Instead of typing in a phone number and receiving a six-digit code, users will now scan a QR code displayed on their screen using their phone’s camera.
Two-step verification has been required for the approximately 1.8 billion Gmail users worldwide, where SMS codes help confirm a user’s identity. While this method is more secure than just using a password, there have still been cases of fraud where scammers find ways to bypass this protection.
One common method used by cybercriminals involves phishing attacks. In these incidents, scammers fake identities to trick people into giving away their security codes, posing as representatives from Google or a phone company. Additionally, some users have faced challenges accessing the device that the SMS verification code is sent to.
Richendrfer emphasized that SMS codes could pose higher risks for users, prompting Google’s decision to introduce a new approach aimed at reducing vulnerabilities and keeping users safer from potential attacks. This change aims to enhance security measures and ultimately provide a more reliable way to verify identity in a digital world where threats are increasingly sophisticated.
