Google is finally addressing a big gap with its 2FA (two-factor authentication) code app by adding sync capabilities, with Google Authenticator also getting a new icon on Android and iOS.
The app dates back to 2010 and sparingly gets updates. Google is specifically adding the “ability to safely backup your one-time codes (also known as one-time passwords or OTPs) to your Google Account.” It will make “one time codes more durable by storing them safely in users’ Google Account.”
This change means users are better protected from lockout and that services can rely on users retaining access, increasing both convenience and security.
This has been a “major piece of feedback,” especially when setting up new or lost devices: “Since one time codes in Authenticator were only stored on a single device, a loss of that device meant that users lost their ability to sign in to any service on which they’d set up 2FA using Authenticator.”
The new icon is in the four Google colors with triangles making up the asterisk symbol. It replaces the old circular icon with a ‘G’ that was meant to evoke a vault.
Google Authenticator’s sync update and new logo are still rolling out on Android and iOS.
Updating…
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