Google Authenticator is an application launched in 2010 aimed at generating one-time codes (OTP) when logging into applications and services together with usernames and traditional passwords in those user accounts where you have two-step verification enabled
Google Authenticator is one of the growing cast of mobile applications for single code generation, sharing space with other eligible options such as Microsoft Authenticator, Authy, Aegis Authenticator, among others.
The use of any of these applications is more secure than the reception and use of the one-time code received through an SMS message on the mobile itself, this being a completely inadvisable method.
Losing a mobile will no longer be the inconvenience to log in
However, during all these years, Google Authenticator has been linked to a single mobile device, so that if it is stolen or lost, affected users have found it very difficult to log in to any of the services on the device. who had two-factor verification configured using Authenticator.
But from now on the situation will begin to change since, as Google announces today, a new update arrives on both Android and iOS that will allow the synchronization of codes with Google accounts.
According to Google:
This change means that users are better protected from being locked out and that services can depend on users maintaining access, increasing both convenience and security.
Authenticator as part of multiple secure login options
The company points out that Authenticator is just one of the many options it has developed to enable secure authentication on the web, as well as Google Password Manager for faster logins on Android and Chrome, as well as the Login with function. Google to sign in to a site or app faster with your Google account.
In addition to these options, we already know that Google has promoted much more secure options, such as the use of physical security keys, aimed mainly at business users and people with special protection.
To make use of the new feature, it will be enough to update the application in order to synchronize the codes with the Google account, and that the possible loss or misplacement of the main device is no longer an inconvenience to continue logging in.
More information: Google
