GMAIL TWO FACTOR AUTHENTICATION – HOW TO TURN ON 2FA

It is very essential to keep one’s Gmail account secure at all times. Just having a password is not enough to keep a person’s Gmail account completely safe. It would be smart to enable two-factor authentication to keep the account safe.

WHY USE GMAIL TWO FACTOR AUTHENTICATION 2FA

Email accounts contain lots of valuable information. Some persons use the account for virtually everything ranging from online banking to social media and even as far as work-related matters. Having one’s information in a single place is useful but also potentially dangerous. When such an account is accessed by unauthorized persons or if a hacker or a fraudster is able to obtain or bypass your password, they can gain access to a lot of information as well as your identity.

This is where the two-factor authentication comes in. Two-factor authentication requires that you have access to a physical device like a smartphone as well as a virtual password.

HOW THE GMAIL TWO FACTOR AUTHENTICATION WORKS

Gmail 2-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring that one has a password and a specific or special security key to access a Gmail account.

In going about getting this, Google sends a verification code that is unique to your account through a voice call, the Google authentication app, or via text. Each code is only useable once and expires within minutes, making it very secure.

TURNING ON GMAIL 2-STEP VERIFICATION

This is quite simple to turn On. It only takes a few minutes and it is done by taking the following steps:

1. Log into your Gmail account
2. Select your profile icon
3. Select Google account
4. Select security
5. Select 2-step verification
6. Select Get Started
7. Enter a password and select Next
8. Enter your phone number, choose between receiving codes via phone call or text message, then select Next
9. Enter the verification code, then select Next
10. select Turn On to activate Gmail 2-step authentication

TURNING OFF GMAIL TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION

This entails:

1. Enter your Gmail account
2. Select Profile account
3. Select Google account
4. Select Security
5. Scroll down to 2-step verification and select ON
6. Log into your account
7. Select Turn OFF
8. Select Turn OFF in the dialog box to disable Gmail 2-step verification on this account

HOW TO SET UP ALTERNATE VERIFICATION STEPS FOR YOUR GMAIL ACCOUNT

Setting up alternate verification steps such that it’s different from a text message or voice call involves:

1. Log into your Gmail account
2. Select your profile icon
3. Select Google Account
4. Select Security
5. Scroll down to 2-step verification and select On
6. Scroll down to “Set up an alternative second step”
7. Choose from one-off printable backup codes, a Google prompt or to install the Google Authenticator app to your phone.

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