If you’ve got a Google account, odds are good that you’ve got at least some personal info in there. And thanks to a new two-step verification feature, it’s super easy to secure that account.
Google today announced a new two-step verification method called “Google prompt.” With it, you can simply unlock your smartphone to verify yourself when logging in to your Google account. Google announced the feature for its Google Apps users earlier today, but personal accounts can enable it, too.
To enable this new Google prompt, head to your My Account page on Google, then select “Sign-in & security,” scroll to the “Signing in to Google” section, and select “2-Step Verification” in the “Password & sign-in method” box. You can then choose to add a phone to the Google prompt tool. A data connection is required to use Google prompt, and Android users will need the latest Google Play Services to use the feature. iOS users will need to have the Google Search app installed on their device.
Once enabled, you’ll get a notification on your phone when trying to sign in to your Google account. When the alert pops up, you can unlocked your phone and tap “Yes” if it’s you that’s trying to sign in or “No” if it’s not you.
This isn’t Google’s first two-step verification feature, as the company also offers text and voice messages as a way to verify your sign-ins, and there’s even a dedicated Google Authenticator app that does the same thing. Google prompt might be the easiest way to secure your account, though, because you get an instant notification rather than having to wait around for a text or voice message. And while iPhone owners will need to have the Google Search app installed to use Google prompt, that app is useful for things other than verifying your account.