How to activate two-factor authorization for your Google account

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is an additional layer of security that is added to online accounts to ensure unauthorized access or logins. 

The 2 'factors' involved here are your account's password and the temporary code sent to the user in real time for authentication. The purpose is to authenticate a login or transaction with a piece of information that only the user will have access to (in all likelihood). When the system detects an attempt to login, it is programmed to ensure that both 'factors' are satisfied and finally grants access.

The increasing cases of cybercrime, data theft, hacking and other such online frauds have made people more conscious about online security. Setting up a 2FA is important across accounts, not just for online banking and other finance-related accounts. As acts as a better check against unauthorized access to users' account. Here we tell you how you can setup Two-Factor Authentication for your Google account.

Step 1:
Head over to Google's My Account page. This page provides you an overview of your Google account settings and authorized apps. You can edit your personal details, alternate contact numbers and even add your primary contact number here.

Step 2:

Under the section "Sign-in & security" on the page, you will be provided with the option of carrying out a "Security Checkup". Consider this a manual diagnostic tool that Google has created to ensure that your account is accessed only on trusted devices. It provides you an overview of all the active sessions, the devices where your Google account has been logged into, the apps which have access to your Google account profile, and lastly the Two-Factor Authentication.

We recommend that you keep track of your account and use this feature anytime you do change devices. If you have been on the move and logged into multiple devices from multiple locations, then you can track your sessions and block out access to your account on these devices.

Step 3:

Once you complete the Two-Factor Authentication setup, the system checks to see if you've added your primary contact number. If not, then the system asks you to add the number first. Once it is done, you are ready to get going.