You may have heard about Google's latest effort to improve the account security for Google account users: 2-Step verification. Google adds a second authentication layer to the standard username and password log in process.
The second step makes use of a connected smartphone or other means, with various options to generate the code locally or remotely. Options include receiving a one-time code per SMS or phone call, by installing an app on a smartphone, or by running devices that generate codes locally without need for a phone.
The feature is still being rolled out to all Google account holders and it can take some time before it becomes available. I just found an interesting article on Caschy's German blog where he explains how to start using the 2-step verification right now, even if the option is not displaying in the settings of the account yet.
Update: 2-step verification is available for all accounts now. You can configure it by visiting the Account settings page on Google and clicking on the entry listed under signing in. The full process is outlined below.
Before I explain how that's done lets take a look under account settings first to see if 2-step verification is available there. Go to Google My Account and click on the sign in button at the top right of the screen if you are not already logged in
Enter your username and password and wait for the login process to complete. Select "sign-in & security" on the page to proceed.
Scroll down on the page until you find the 2-step verification option listed under "signing in to Google".
The setting should read on or off, and if it reads on, list the date 2-step verification has been enabled for the account.
If it is off, click on it to start the setup process.
You may be asked to enter your Google password again at this stage. The next page explains what 2-step verification is. The two main points are:
Basically, it requires that you provide another code after you enter your username and password that is generated on demand.
Click on the Get Started button to start the setup process. The next page requires that you set up a phone.
Select the country flag and enter the full phone number of the device that you want to use for 2-step verification. You may also switch from receiving codes by text message to receiving phone calls instead.
Please note that you can use other means besides text or phone calls later on. Click on the try it link after you have entered the information.
If all works well, you should receive a text message or phone call that provides you with the first 2-step verification code.
You need to enter that code on the next page to complete the setup process.
While you need to link a phone number as part of Google's 2-Step Verification feature, other options are provided that you may want to explore.
The very same page lists trusted devices. Trusted devices don't require a second step of verification. You may revoke all or individual permissions at any time on the page.
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Ghacks is a technology news blog that was founded in 2005 by Martin Brinkmann. It has since then become one of the most popular tech news sites on the Internet with five authors and regular contributions from freelance writers.
Ich hab eben noch mal das Prozedere für Google Apps nachgetragen, vielleicht für deine Leser wichtig.
Dank dir, habs hinzugefügt.
OMG!! Thank you, it worked for me.
I tried something in the like before and it wasn’t working. But now, I got it !!
TY
Thanks, I’ve been looking forward to using this. I use google calendar’s SMS feature a lot and find it invaluable.
During the process I was asked to print one-time codes, which proved invaluable, as the text message I received when trying to log back in to Google’s account settings was a big bunch of hex gibberish, and so was another one when I logged in from another computer. Lucky there’s the voice option, too.
since the step-2 security setting is not available in india, its not a boon for us…… but, btw, a good effort to make us feel more secure!!!!
appreciable!!!