From the Jennifer Lawrence photo scandal to the 200,000 Snapchat photos that were recently leaked, it feels like hackers are everywhere, and celebrities aren’t the only ones that are being targeted. Unfortunately, having a strong password doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re protected at this point. However, many sites — including Twitter, Facebook, and Google — are now offering a 2-step verification process during sign in.
According to Google, everyone should use 2-step verification because it will add an additional layer of security to your account. This extra step makes it that much harder for any hacker to access your private information. So, how exactly does this 2-step verification work? Put simply, a hacker would now need to have access to both your password and your phone in order to get into your account. After correctly entering in your username and password, you will be prompted to enter in a code that was sent to your phone via text message or voice call. Then, you’re in! And you can rest easy knowing that no one can access your private information. As an added bonus, you’ll know that someone is trying to access your account if you receive a text message when you aren’t trying to sign in.
To set up 2-step verification for your Google account, go to the privacy options and under “Tools & Information” you’ll see a link to the 2-step set up. When setting up, you’ll have the option of choosing whether you require the 2-step verification at each sign in or just when signing in at a different computer. During this hacking epidemic, it’s nice to know that several companies are committed to protecting the privacy of their users. After heavy hitters like Google and Facebook have implemented the 2-step verification, it’s only a matter of time before many other companies follow suit to help keep the bad guys out.
