Authenticate your Google account using an iphone

Two-factor authentication (2FA) secures your online accounts with a combination of traditional passwords and a USB security key, like a Yubikey (see How To… Issue 563, page 35) or verification via a code sent to your phone. Once enabled, your account can only be unlocked if the person trying to access it has both your password and the security key to plug into a USB port, or your phone, on which they can tap the code.

Last year Google started to let you use your Android phone as a security key to sign into your Google account. This feature has just been added to iphones (running IOS 10 or later). Visit www. snipca.com/33833 and log into your Google Account if requested, then make sure 2-Step Verification is enabled in the ‘Signing in to Google’ section. Now click Add Security Key and select your phone in the list of options (see screenshot above right).

Install the Google Smart Lock app on your phone from www.snipca.com/33834 and work through the setup screens, selecting the Google Account you want to use from the list (if you have more than one) and tapping ‘Allow’ on both the Allow Bluetooth and Show Notifications screens.

Now, when you try to log into your Google account, you’ll be asked to tap a button on your iphone screen to unlock your account. Optionally, tick the box on

the web page to remember the browser you’re using and you won’t need to use the phone in future unless you switch browsers or PCS.