With a new Google two-factor authentication code theft warning hitting the headlines, the threat of being locked out of your Gmail account has once again moved to the forefront of security-minded users of the world’s most popular email platform. Google itself has not only confirmed updates mitigating the latest 2FA threat, but has now gone one step further by introducing a new security feature. This feature is designed to help if the worst happens and you find yourself locked out of your account due to hacker action, device loss, or password amnesia. Here’s everything you need to know about the recovery contacts setting that is rolling out as I type.
Locked Out Of Your Gmail Account? Google’s Recovery Contacts Feature Can Help
With attacks against Google accounts, and that means your Gmail account as well, spiking by 84% across the past year, according to Google, with password-stealing email threats the prime culprit, taking account recovery seriously is long overdue if you have overlooked it so far.
However, as Claire Forszt and Sriram Karra from Google’s Identity and Engagement team, have now confirmed, even if you have taken steps to help recover an account you can no longer access, such as by way of one-time SMS code, for example, “that can be hard if you lost your phone or haven’t updated your recovery phone number.”
Which is why Google is rolling out a brand new security feature called Recovery Contacts to reinforce the Gmail account recovery precisely at those times of most stress when you need help immediately.
The Recovery Contacts setting enables Gmail users to choose trusted contacts, family members or close friends to provide help if ever they find themselves locked out and unable to receive a recovery code for any reason. “It’s a simple, secure way to turn to people you trust when other recovery options aren’t available,” Forszt and Karra said.
Set Up Your Gmail Recovery Contacts Option Now
Setting up Recovery Contacts is simple enough, although Google has said that the feature is still rolling out, so it may not yet be available to you. You can check if it is and start the process by clicking this Google account link.
Once you have chosen your trusted contacts, if you need help with recovering your account, you share a code with them and, Google said, “they will get an email or notification and can confirm it’s really you by verifying that code, helping you securely regain access to your account.”
Obviously, you should only select someone you can trust 100%, but Google advised that the recovery contact never actually has access to your Gmail account or any of your personal information. There’s nothing to lose, except access to your email account if the worst happens and you haven’t prepared in advance. So, what are you waiting for?
