New Google Test Feature – Replace Your Password With A Smartphone

Google affirmed toward the beginning of today it’s currently trying another approach to sign into your Google account without typing in a password. Rather, the individuals who have been welcome to attempt this new technique for responding so as to sign in confirm to a notice sent to their cell phone. The idea is similar to Yahoo’s recently launched “Account Key,” which likewise offers a password free method for marking in including a push warning sent to your smartphone that then opens an app where you affirm the log-in.

Passwords are often the weakest parts when it comes to securing users’ accounts, as many don’t use complex passwords or they reuse the same password across services. Two-factor authentication – like using a USB stick with a secret token or entering in a code sent via text method to your phone – can help to increase security, but many users also find this to be a hassle as it introduces an additional step to the login process.

This new password free login choice, then again, is about accelerating logins by offering an alternate method of signing in altogether.

You only have to enter your email address when you’re signing into your Google account. Afterward, a notification will appear on your phone asking you if you’re trying to sign in from another device. Approve the login by tapping “yes,” and you’re in.

This would be particularly helpful for the individuals who dependably have their phone close-by while utilizing Google services on different gadgets, similar to their PC, and also the individuals who have long and entangled passwords that are hard to sort.

It could also help to protect against phishing – something that Google addresses today through its Password Alert tool, too.

The new feature was first reported by Reddit user, and Android Police confirmed with Google that the new feature is being tested with a small number of users on iOS and Android.

The group is called “Sign-In Experiments at Google,” and is found here on Google Groups. While the link to the group is public, you can’t view or participate without a direct invitation.

A Google spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that this is, indeed, a new experiment now underway, noting that:

“We’ve invited a small group of users to help test a new way to sign-in to their Google accounts, no password required. ‘Pizza’, ‘password’ and ‘123456’—your days are numbered.”

After accepting the invite and joining the group, the email explains that you’re then able to sign in without entering a password but you can continue to use your typed password if you choose. In addition, Google says it may choose to ask for your password as an additional security measure if it notices anything unusual about your current login attempt. (And it’s helpful to be able to use your password in case your phone is dead, or goes missing.)

In the case your phone is lost or stolen, your screen lock or Touch ID on your smartphone will protect your private data, as the thief or unknown party will not be able to unlock your phone. Google also advises in the case of a lost device, you should sign into your account from another device and remove account access from the device you no longer have in your possession.

Google tells testers they are able to turn off this new means of signing in at any time, and, as the email Paul received notes, testers can leave the trial group if they don’t want to offer Google their feedback about the sign-in process.

We understand that only a small number of users are being invited to test this new feature for the time being. Google did not comment on when it plans on expanding access to more testers or the broader public. The password-free sign in process works on both iOS and Android at present. (Reference by Techcrunch)