Google Authenticator adds account syncing for two-factor codes

The Google Authenticator app has introduced a new feature that allows users to back up and sync their one-time access codes for enhanced account security. This feature is now available on both iOS and Android devices and can be accessed through a user's Google Account. 

Google has introduced new measures to enhance the security and ease of signing into Google and other applications and services. The tech firm has integrated authentication tools like Google Password Manager and Sign in with Google to streamline the process and provide added security. In addition, the corporation offers automated safeguards such as notifications when an individual gains entry to your Google Account from an unfamiliar device.   

As the company is aiming for a passwordless future, authentication codes continue to play a crucial role in ensuring internet security. Google has made further improvements to the Google Authenticator app to enhance its functionality. Last year, Google updated its Password Manager to unify the web and app versions.  

“One major piece of feedback we’ve heard from users over the years was the complexity of dealing with lost or stolen devices that had Google Authenticator installed. 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 into any service on which they’d set up 2FA using Authenticator,” Google’s Christiaan Brand wrote in a blog post.   

This new feature will also enable users to safely store their one-time codes, commonly known as one-time passwords or OTPs, in their Google Account, and will enhance the durability of one-time codes, providing users with increased convenience and security while safeguarding them against lockouts.   

The update also brings a new icon to the two-factor authenticator (2FA) app and a crucial fix that has been a long-standing complaint among users. The update has brought the app in line with Apple's iCloud Keychain and has resolved the issue of being tied to a particular device, which has been a hassle for users when switching phones.  

To enable the synchronisation of two-factor authentication codes via the cloud, users must upgrade to the most recent version of the Authenticator application on both Android and iOS platforms.