Morning Tidings

Tag: 2FA

  • Google makes Chrome for Android a 2FA security key for account sign-in – morningtidings

    Google makes Chrome for Android a 2FA security key for account sign-in – morningtidings

    Two-factor authentication (2FA) acts as an additional layer of security to prevent unauthorised account sign-in. Google has widely encouraged its users to adopt the 2FA for their Google accounts. Now, it has reportedly made Chrome for Android browser as a 2FA security key for Google account sign-in.
    As per a report by 9to5Google, the Chrome 93 for Android beta hints at the development. It says that the beta update prompts users when someone attempts to sign in to the same Google account on a nearby device.
    Once a user enters an email ID and password on a laptop, Google will send them a prompt message “Are you trying to sign in?” notification. It opens a fullscreen page with “Yes” and “No, it’s not me” at the bottom. “Someone is trying to sign in to your account from a nearby device”, it says.
    After you confirm the sign-in, you will be taken to a “Connecting to your device” page with rotating animation. As revealed by a Chrome browser flag, Google is using assisted Bluetooth Low Energy (CABLE) to enable the 2FA using Chrome for Android. Chrome Sync must be enabled on both devices for the feature to work.
    The feature is available via Chrome for macOS, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, and Android. It is not available for iOS devices though.
    Similar feature in the past
    This is not the first time Google has attempted to make account sign-in safe and easier with the 2FA method. It has Titan Security Key that acts as a hardware-based authentication option. It allows Android smartphones to act as security keys and offers support for the use of time-based verification codes via the multi-platform Google Authenticator app.

    timesofindia.indiatimes.com

  • Twitter Users Can Now Use Security Keys As the Only Form of 2FA on Mobile and Web: Report

    Twitter Users Can Now Use Security Keys As the Only Form of 2FA on Mobile and Web: Report

    New Delhi: Twitter has announced that users can use their security keys as only form of two-factor authentication (2FA) on both mobile and web, which is the most effective way to keep the Twitter account secure. In March, Twitter had said it would soon let people use a security key as their only two-factor authentication method. Security keys are small devices that act like keys to your house. Just as you need a physical key to unlock the door to your home, you need a security key to unlock access to your account. Twitter Down? Several Users Report Outage as They Are Unable to Access Their Timeline, Post New Tweets.

    “Security keys offer the strongest protection for your Twitter account because they have built-in protections to ensure that even if a key is used on a phishing site, the information shared can’t be used to access your account,” Twitter said in a statement on Wednesday.

    “Now we’re adding the option to use security keys as your sole 2FA method – meaning you can enroll one or more security keys as the only form of 2FA on your Twitter account without a backup 2FA method,” Twitter explained.

    Security keys can differentiate legitimate sites from malicious ones and block phishing attempts that SMS or verification codes would not. Twitter has long encouraged the use of some form of 2FA. In 2018, it added the option to use security keys as one of several 2FA options.

    However, this initial support only worked for Twitter.com, not the mobile app, and required accounts to have another form of 2FA enabled as well. In 2019, it upgraded the security key support to use the latest WebAuthn standard, which provides an up-to-date and secure authentication method recognized across the web.

    In 2020, the company made additional improvements by enabling support for security keys on iOS and Android, in addition to the web. Earlier this year, it added the ability to register multiple security keys on users’ Twitter account, allowing them to have backup security keys and making it easier for accounts managed by multiple people to enable 2FA with multiple security keys.

    (The above story first appeared on Morning Tidings on Jul 01, 2021 10:56 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website morningtidings.com).

  • Facebook-Owned Instagram Plans To Send 2FA Codes via WhatsApp: Report

    Facebook-Owned Instagram Plans To Send 2FA Codes via WhatsApp: Report

    San Francisco: Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram is working on a new feature that allows users to choose if they want to receive 2FA codes through WhatsApp Messenger or WhatsApp Business. This feature will be optional and, if users don’t feel safe, they can always enable the app authentication to generate 2FA codes, webainfo, citing developer and app analyst Alessandro Paluzzi, reported on Saturday. Instagram Will Now Block Users for Sending Hateful Messages via DMs: Report.

    The feature is under development and it will be available in a future update on Instagram for Android and iOS. According to 9To5Google, with WhatsApp working to support multi-devices, it would be a great alternative to receive 2FA codes to log into Instagram from the web even if the user’s main device is off.

    Recently, a report said that Instagram is working on an update to its desktop website that will allow users to create posts from there as well. The update brings the post creator to the web version of Instagram — which was previously only available on the mobile Instagram website besides the official app. The interface has been tweaked with a preview of the content next to the publishing options. Users will also find options to crop the image, apply filters and set a description.

    (The above story first appeared on Morning Tidings on May 24, 2021 05:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website morningtidings.com).