Tech Report: Google Password-free Logins On Testing

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You may not have to type in a long password the next time you try to log into your Google account. Google has confirmed that it is testing a new way of authentication with password-free logins.

“We’ve invited a small group of users to help test a new way to sign-in to their Google accounts, no password required. ‘Pizza’, ‘password’, and ‘123456’ — your days are numbered,” a Google spokesperson told VentureBeat.

The news hit headlines when a Reddit user Rohit Paul revealed screenshots of the new sign-in feature that were first spotted by Android Police. Google is testing the new feature with a small group of enthusiasts. It will put an end to the two-step authentication and you will simply need your phone around. Users need to first set up and authorise their phone and a lockscreen is recommended, so that people with access to your phone don’t misuse it.

“Once set up, when you try to log in to Google on any other computer or device, you just have to input your email address and ask to be let in. A notification shows up on your phone asking if you’re the one who is trying to sign in from another device. Approve and ta-da, you’re in,” explains Android Police. However, you still have the option to use the password.

Google has realised that typing in long strings isn’t very convenient and how people usually compromise security with easy and common passwords. We’ve also been hearing about the company’s Project Vault. A secure computer the size of a micro SD card, it can be integrated into devices — so a computer within a computer — to ensure that communications can’t be hacked or data hijacked. And it has 4GB of storage, too. This is already being tested by businesses and it will be heading to enterprises first.