Google Account Security-  A Nuisance or Necessary Precaution?

One of the most troublesome concerns with the internet today is the security of our online lives, and the safety and security of our Google Accounts, our "hub" for all that we do with Google products, is obviously a big consideration.

1.  The Good Old Days

Traditionally (and I am from that early time-  2003/2006) it was not the "done thing" to give your personal details out online, not even to those pioneering sites like YouTube, My Space and Facebook.  We used pseudonyms, never gave our real date of birth, and we usually used a common password which was easy to remember for the five or so online sites we frequented.  Remember secret questions and answers?  Sigh...

But at this point it is really important to note that our concerns were (and still are) in regard to privacy.  Often at the cost of security.  Two distinctly different concerns with heavy overlap, which must not be mistaken for each other.

2.  The Rise of The Hackers (sounds like a title for a B Movie)

Fast forward to 2014/15 when the data breaches (security failures impacting privacy concerns) began to plague our online lives and sites began to clamp down.  Consumer email providers were suddenly seeing thousands of their users's accounts hacked /stolen.  Banks introduced physical keys with constantly regenerating passcodes to secure our bank accounts.  And, naturally, companies like Google began to really need to protect the increasingly valuable Google products users entrusted into Google's care.

Now, in 2023, Google is working at providing robust solutions which their users can use to protect their Google assets.  

It may not seem obvious to someone who uses, perhaps, a YouTube channel to create a playlist of their favourite music videos only-  but YouTube provides thousands of creators with a living, ie full-time employment.  To have such a Google product hijacked can be catastrophic.  A hacked Google Account and hijacked YouTube channel = $1,000s in revenues lost.  Similarly a Gmail email user may be using their Gmail email for their entire personal life's affairs-  government correspondence, emails with hospital records, invitations to job interviews etc.  Imagine losing that from one day to the next!

Bottom line:

Google Account security has never ever been

more important than it is today.

3.  Recommendations

So-  go and read this:  https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/46526, if that is the only article you do read on the subject.

And then-  act on it.  Get, at very least, 2-step verification for your Google Account and make sure to avail yourself of all the options offered that you can afford (YUBI keys are great, but they cost.  Passkeys are awesome if you already have a "biometrically-enabled" device!!).

It will not make your life harder;  it will make it much harder for would-be hackers and so much easier for Google to help you get back in.

4.  Further Reading

If you are really interested in a deep-dive on the topic then I can heartily recommend checking out the following resources:

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/12629482

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/7162782 

https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/public-key/ of which the following are of interest:

1. https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/google-account-recover/
2. https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/why-design-important-security/
3. https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/a-simpler-and-safer-future-without-passwords/