Google Authenticator finally fixes its biggest flaw

Google Authenticator, the Big G platform, which allows the generation of one-time codes for authentication in two-factor applications, has been updated with an important novelty. Now, thanks to version 6.0, users can sync the codes stored in the app with your Google account and therefore not depend on a particular device to look up the key and enter it in the respective platform.

Available on both iOS and Android, the new feature is meant to avoid the headache many users have when their device is lost or stolen. And this is what so far all keys generated via Google Authenticator were stored locally. So, if someone, for whatever reason, couldn’t access the device they used to store their codes, they couldn’t sign in to any platform where they set up two-factor authentication with the Google app.

In this update, we’re rolling out a fix for this issue by making one-time codes more secure by storing them securely in users’ Google accounts. This change means that users are better protected from blocking and that services can depend on users to retain access, improving convenience and security.

says Google.

So just update the app to the latest version and sign in with your google account. All saved codes will be synchronized in the cloud, and those new ones that are generated too. This way, if someone logs into the application, for example, from an additional mobile phone, they will be able to see the same keys and enter them into the corresponding application.

The new version of Google Authenticator also has a new, more minimalistic icon.

Why is Google Authenticator important?

Google Authenticator can be useful for add extra security in applications with a high potential for hacking by cybercriminals due to their popularity. For example, Instagram, Facebook or any other similar platform. But especially for Twitter, and more precisely for all those who do not pay for a Blue subscription and, therefore, need to use the one-time password service.

Mainly because Twitter no longer allows users who don’t pay for Blue to use the two-factor authentication that the social network itself integrated, which allowed them to receive a temporary code through a phone number. Therefore, one of the best ways to secure your account is to use Google Authenticator or a similar service.