{"id":1291370,"date":"2025-02-28T12:09:57","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T06:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trak.in\/stories\/?p=1291370"},"modified":"2025-02-28T12:10:33","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T06:40:33","slug":"google-introduces-qr-code-authentication-for-gmail-replacing-smses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trak.in\/stories\/google-introduces-qr-code-authentication-for-gmail-replacing-smses\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Introduces QR Code Authentication For Gmail, Replacing SMSes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Google intends to gradually remove two-factor authentication (2FA) for Gmail users that relies on SMS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, QR code verification will be used as the new authentication method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Google<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Google To Replace SMS-based Two Factor Authentication With QR Codes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal of this modification is to increase security and lower the risks of phishing and SIM-swapping fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, after entering their password, Gmail users receive an SMS with a six-digit authentication code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite more secure alternatives, SMS-based authentication, which was first used in 2011, is still widely used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Users will need to use the cameras on their smartphones to scan a QR code in order to confirm their identity under the new system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SMS-based two-factor authentication is becoming more and more susceptible to phishing scams and SIM-swapping attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to intercept verification codes, SIM-swapping attacks entail moving the victim’s phone number to a different SIM card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hackers also use phishing attacks to fool users into disclosing their one-time SMS codes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google Not The First Company To Stop SMS Authentication<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

X (formerly Twitter) has already abandoned SMS authentication, so Google is not the first company to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SMS-based 2FA is unreliable since hackers take advantage of telecom flaws to profit from automated text message verifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although a formal rollout date has not been announced by Google, the change is anticipated to occur in the upcoming months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google already provides a number of additional safe login methods in addition to QR codes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a registered device, Google Prompts lets users approve or reject login attempts through a pop-up notification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For extra security, time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) are generated by authenticator apps such as Authy and Google Authenticator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best level of security is offered by physical security keys like YubiKey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some users currently prefer phone calls to SMS for authentication, but it’s unclear if Google will stop using these as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google is set to establish its first physical stores outside the United States, with planned locations in New Delhi and Mumbai. This marks a strategic shift as Google aims to strengthen its foothold in India\u2019s growing premium smartphone market, where it competes with Apple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image Source<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Google intends to gradually remove two-factor authentication (2FA) for Gmail users that relies on SMS. Instead, QR code verification will be used as the new authentication method. Google To Replace SMS-based Two Factor Authentication With QR Codes The goal of this modification is to increase security and lower the risks of phishing and SIM-swapping fraud. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":1291385,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[63,2287,5762],"class_list":["post-1291370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-google","tag-qr-code","tag-sms"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGoogle Introduces QR Code Authentication For Gmail, Replacing SMSes - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/trak.in\/stories\/google-introduces-qr-code-authentication-for-gmail-replacing-smses\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Google Introduces QR Code Authentication For Gmail, Replacing SMSes - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Google intends to gradually remove two-factor authentication (2FA) for Gmail users that relies on SMS. 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