In a bid to enhance online security, individuals with Gmail and Google accounts are strongly advised to promptly navigate to their settings and activate basic security features. Despite widespread awareness of online scams and their detrimental impact, the prevalence of such incidents continues to rise alarmingly. Recent statistics from the FBI reveal that cybercriminals pocketed over £12 billion in 2024 alone, marking a 33% surge in attacks.
A major concern stems from the continued use of weak passwords by many users, coupled with hackers’ increasing proficiency in breaching accounts. Surprisingly, a considerable number of individuals still rely on easily guessable passwords like “password,” “qwerty,” and “123456.”
Given the substantial financial losses incurred due to cyber scams, now presents an opportune moment to implement necessary changes, a message underscored by Google. The tech giant advocates transitioning from conventional password practices to more secure alternatives such as Sign in with Google and passkeys.
These updated login methods offer the convenience of reduced passwords and facilitate account access through fingerprint and facial recognition. While these technologies have been available for some time, older demographics, notably Gen X and Baby Boomers, have been slower to adopt them. Despite the familiarity with newer, more efficient methods, only around 30% of users utilize them daily, signaling a reluctance to depart from traditional approaches.
Conversely, younger Gen Z individuals are embracing advanced authentication tools, bypassing outdated security norms like passwords. Google’s Evan Kotsovinos emphasized the company’s commitment to phasing out passwords entirely, promoting the use of modern methods like Sign in with Google and passkeys, which offer enhanced security and ease of use through Google Password Manager.
For those finding advanced technologies daunting, enabling 2-Step Verification (2SV) provides an additional layer of security. This feature requires users to input a separate code, usually sent to another linked device, before accessing their accounts.
Kotsovinos highlighted supplementary security tools like 2-Step Verification (2SV), the Google Authenticator App, and Google Password Manager for users who prefer password-based security. As cyber threats persist, adopting these recommendations to move away from passwords or enhance security measures becomes imperative to safeguard against potential breaches.
