If you’re like a lot of people, you use the same password for everything, your Google accounts, banks, online communities, etc. Having the same password spread across many sites is a vulnerable risk to take, but a lot of people do it because they just can’t simply remember the same password for tens, if not hundreds of websites. Google has now added a new security measure which will allow you to keep your same password, but require an additional method of verification across your Google accounts.
A link should show up in your Google Account Settings page soon allowing you to make the necessary changes. I tried making the changes to my account, but it still not yet available to my account, so expect it to be available in the next few days.
This 2-step verification process will include setting up a phone and code as well as backups for each. Once the 2-step verification is enabled, you will be prompted every time you login for a verification code.
The verification code will be either sent via text, a call to your phone, or generated by an application on the most popular mobile phones. You’ll also have the option to have Google remember the verification for 30 days, so you don’t have to enter it every time you login to the same computer or device.
The whole process shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to complete. The extra 15 minutes for additional security is well worth the peace of mind when it comes to your Google account security.
