In order to reduce the risk of Internet accounts being compromised by hackers, security experts have been painstakingly persuading the majority of users to try their best to specify a string of passwords of sufficient length and difficult to guess for different services.
At the same time, many service providers have launched enhanced account security solutions based on two-factor authentication (referred to as 2FA). If you happen to be a Chrome for Android user, there is now an additional bonus.
Specifically, when you log in to the Google app on your computer, you will be able to use the Chrome for Android browser as a 2FA security key. The current mainstream two-factor authentication schemes usually include SMS verification codes, verifier apps, or directly connecting the physical security key to the PC.
The 2FA verification scheme for Chrome for Android is currently only available in the Chrome 93 Beta test version. After installation, you can try to log in to your Google account from a nearby computer.
After entering the credentials, your Android phone will receive a notification asking whether to allow this login attempt-this means that the phone can learn whether two devices with the same account are located near the user.
9to5Google explained that just by opening the multitasking menu, you can realize that this notification function is not based on Google Play Services, but directly derived from the Chrome for Android browser. Before using it, please make sure that you have logged in to the same Google account on both devices and enabled the Chrome sync service (refer to the following flag settings):
chrome://flags/#enable-web-authentication-cable-v2-support
As for when the Chrome 2FA feature will be enabled for all Android users, it is currently unknown. If Google is interested, any subsequent devices running the Chrome 93 mobile browser (even Apple iPhone smartphones) may receive similar 2FA verification notifications.
