- By Prateek Levi
- Tue, 25 Feb 2025 03:45 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Gmail 2FA update: With each passing day, we get more and more entwined with the online space, and with that, it is important for us to stay safe and sound. To further the interest of the public even big tech players are trying to make the online space safer. Keeping this in mind Google is planning to get rid of the SMS-backed six-digit authentication codes for Gmail and replace it with QR code verification, according to a report from Forbes. This move is to eliminate SMS-related security risks and prevent fraudsters from taking advantage of the traditional 2FA (2-factor Authentication).
How Does It Work?
Once this update is rolled out, Gmail users will no longer receive an SMS code for verification. Instead, a QR code will appear on their screen during the login process. Users can scan the code using their smartphone’s camera app to authenticate their login.
This change is designed to reduce security risks, such as code interception and SIM swapping while making the verification process smoother. Google is also enhancing security and reducing reliance on telecom networks, which are often targeted by hackers. The update will be gradually available in the coming months.
Why No More SMS Codes?
These days fraudsters have become smarter and they try to trick users into revealing their codes, or sometimes the users lose access to the device that receives SMS. Additionally, security issues with mobile carriers can leave users vulnerable to SIM swap fraud, where attackers take control of a phone number to gain unauthorized access to accounts.
Gmail spokesperson Ross Richendrfer further explained that another reason for this change is the increasing concern over traffic pumping scams, also known as toll fraud. In this type of scam, fraudsters generate a large volume of SMS verification messages to numbers they control, profiting each time a message is sent.