Tag: Two-Factor Authentication

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News Tech

Android Smartphone Owners Can Use Their Device As A Security Token

People who own an Android smartphone will be happy to learn that they will now have the option to use the device in for a new two-factor authentication protocol. If the device runs Android 7 or better, you will have the option to sign-in to Google apps and services another device by using the device instead of a security dongle.

Google added Security Token

Before they attempt to use the new feature users will have to turn on Bluetooth and connect to a computer with the help of the Chrome browser. The browser will verify the login and authorize the smartphone. The new security protocol can be used to sign-in to Gmail, Google Cloud, G Suite and other Google services which are compatible with the FIDO authentication standard.

Some users may be familiar with another log in methods which involve the use of a smartphone. One of them is Google Prompt. Those who use this method will receive an automatic notification on their smartphone when an attempt to login to a Google service has been detected. The notification includes useful information like the location where the attempt was made and the device which was used in the process. Google Prompt is quite popular but it is still vulnerable to certain spoofing attempts since the person who attempts to log in doesn’t need your device to start to process.

In this day and age using two-factor authentication is almost a must if you wish to keep your accounts safe. Brute-force attacks aren’t as effective as they used to be in the past, but they can still work in some cases. And there are always users who avoid secure passwords as they believe that no one will be able to guess them in the first place.

How to activate two-factor authentication

You can activate the new two-factor authentication by following these steps:

  • You will need a device which runs Android 7 or better and a computer which runs Chrome.
  • Login to your Google Account on the device and activate Bluetooth.
  • Use Chrome to access myaccount.google.com/security and click on two-step verification.
  • Click on the add a security key option and select your device.
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Games News

GTA Online and Red Dead Online Free Money And Gold – Just Activate Two-Factor Authentication

If you need money and gold for GTA Online and Red Dead Online, there is a simple way to get them for free. Rockstar is offering a reward for those who activate the two-step verification on their accounts. By doing this, players will receive free fold bars in Red Dead Online and free money in GTA Online. More than that, it appears that there will be “additional future benefits.”

Here’s what the blog post reads. “Everyone that adds 2-Step Verification to their Social Club account (and anyone who already has) will receive:

  • GTA$500,000 in your GTA Online account
  • 10 Gold Bars in your Red Dead Online Beta account
  • Additional future benefits in both GTA Online and the Red Dead Online Beta.”

Enhanced security with two-factor authentication gives you GTA Online and Red Dead Online FREE money and gold

While the money and gold reward is nice, Rockstar reminds us that the 2 step verification is one way of adding more security to your account so that you keep it safe.

“Adding 2-Step verification to your Social Club account provides an additional layer of security to help you protect your account from unwanted access. With 2-Step verification enabled, signing in to your account on a new device will require your Nickname or Email, Password, and a Verification Code generated by an Authenticator on your mobile phone, tablet, or browser. A new Verification Code is required when signing in from an unrecognized device or location.”

In order to add the two-factor authentication to your account for GTA Online and Red Dead Online, you need to head over to the settings of your profile on the Social Club website. A generated code will have to be used when logging into a new device. It remains to see what will be the future additional benefits of activating the verification.

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Tech

Apple ID Holders Across China Exposed to a “Phishing” Hack – Two-Factor Authentication Recommended By Apple

A new case of “phishing” in China reminds us how important it is to opt for two-factor authentication to protect our Apple user ID, especially if we have linked a credit or debit card to it. A week ago, two Chinese online payment giants, namely, Alipay and WeChat, reported that their customers whose Apple IDs were linked to the before-mentioned company’s accounts had been hacked. The e-stores noticed misuse of the Apple users’ electronic wallets.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Apple company has now sent a message apologizing sincerely for the situation. However, they also confirmed that the problem has occurred outside the Cupertino-based company, and has been limited to a massive case of “phishing,” an email scam in which the cyberattackers send a message that looks like coming from Apple but, in reality, is not Apple.

Apple recommend two-factor authentication after the recent “phishing” attacks of Apple ID across China

According to this “phishing” email, the Apple ID user is urged to connect to a page that looks like Apple’s official site, but, once again, is not Apple’s. When Apple users connect to that fake website and enter their Apple ID account and password, they are giving their credentials to hackers who use them as they want.

“We apologize sincerely for the inconvenience caused to customers affected by these phishing scams,” Apple stated.

Apparently, the hacked Apple customers had not configured two-factor authentication, which would have prevented hackers from accessing their Apple ID. However, as reported, the issue only affected Apple users across China.

Apple has not confirmed how many of its clients have been affected, nor what money amounts have been stolen. Also, the Cupertino-based company did not offer details on how cyberattackers obtained the list of the Apple IDs across China to send “phishing” emails to them. However, Apple recommended users worldwide to adopt two-factor authentication.

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