Google is testing out a new way to sign into their services — and it nixes one of the most annoying security measures out there: passwords. The tech giant is trying out a feature that lets some users confirm their identity just by using their smartphones. The move is not only just the latest sign that the tech industry is trying to get users away from passwords.
This new password-free login option, on the other hand, is about speeding up logins by offering a different way 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 especially useful for those who always have their phone nearby while using Google services on other devices, like their computer, as well as those who have long and complicated passwords that are difficult to type.
Here are the steps the user said they needed to take to get password-free access to their Google account:
- Go to google.com to test out the log in. (granted that I’m not logged in.)
- Enter in email address into sign in page and hit next.
- Next page tells you to check your phone and enter the challenge. (I had tried this morning and it didn’t ask me to enter a challenge. But as I was going through the process this time, I was had a challenge.)
- On the phone I get a notification “Trying to sign in?”
- Opening the notification I’m asked if I’m trying to sign in from another computer. I answer yes.
- Next I have to enter the challenge. In this case the number on the screen is 21.
- Now on my computer, I’m logged into the google page.
Google has been trialing other ways to bolster its security. The search giant already enables so called two-factor authentication, where a user is sent a text message with a code that they use to sign in to Google services.
Security has been a big focus for technology companies recently amid an increasing threat from hackers. Earlier this year, Yahoo released a similar no password login feature for its services called Yahoo Account Key.
