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ZDNET Highlights
- You can turn to trusted contacts to recover your Google account.
- You can also sign in to the new phone using just your number.
- Google Messages will alert you to spam and keep your messages private.
Probably all of our accounts have been closed at some point. It’s not that hard, especially if it’s something you don’t use frequently. You forget or mistype your PIN or password multiple times, and ultimately, you are denied access. Now, if your account is locked then Google has come up with a new and unique way to recover it.
recovery contact
A new feature is called recovery contact Lets you designate a trusted friend or family member to help you get back into your Google Account. If you forget your password, lose your Passkey device, or even the account is compromised, the people you choose can verify your identity, allowing you to recover your account.
To set it up, sign in Your Google Account On desktop or mobile device. Select Security options, look for the How you sign in to Google section, select the button for recovery contacts, and then click the button to add recovery contacts. Type the name or email address of your trusted contact and click Continue. You will then be asked to send them a request to serve as your recovery contact.
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The receiving party then needs to review and approve the request. Once the request is accepted, they are able to log in if your account is locked. In that case, a failed login will eventually take you to the account recovery page. Here, you take a code number, which you share with your contact via phone call. After they verify the code, you are granted access to your account.
You can set up to 10 recovery contacts for your Google Account. Even if you choose someone you completely trust, Google promises that person won’t have access to your account or any of your personal information. Child accounts can’t add recovery contacts or act as contacts for other people. Google Workspace accounts and those enrolled in the Advanced Protection Program may not have recovery contacts, but they can serve as contacts for others.
Sign in on new phone
and that’s not all. Google has introduced a new way to gain access to your account. described in a new blog postThis method relies on your own phone number.
In this case, let’s say your Android phone is lost, stolen, or not working, and you want to access your account on a new Android device. A new “Sign in with mobile number” feature will automatically identify your account using your phone number. All you need is the lock screen passcode from your previous device, and you’ll be able to sign in to your account.
And there’s still more. In its blog postGoogle highlighted other new features designed to protect you and combat scammers.
Google Messages SecurityIf Google Messages suspects that a particular message is spam, it will by default warn you not to click on any links and prevent you from visiting the malicious site. If the message is legitimate and has been accidentally marked as spam, mark it as “Not Spam” to use it normally.
key validatorAlso accessible in Google Messages, new key validator tool Allows both you and trusted contacts to scan QR codes to keep your conversations private. Scanning the code sets a security key to ensure that your messages are encrypted from end to end. Key Verifier is now available on all devices with Android 10 or higher.
“Today, people are regularly experiencing elaborate phishing attempts that use techniques such as voice cloning, deepfakes, and social engineering to create fake impersonations,” Google said in its post. “That’s why we’re constantly innovating and introducing new security features that are built into our products. In a world where malicious content is nearly indistinguishable from the real thing, these features and initiatives are designed to help you avoid scams altogether, or detect them before they do harm.”
