Google is taking steps to protect the data of a small group of its users who run the highest risk of experiencing a data breach or hack. This new service, the Advance Protection Program, shows promise in protecting the information that these select few can access.
Google intends to provide the most likely targets of hacking attacks and cyber surveillance with the Advanced Protection Program. This includes election and campaign officials, victims of domestic violence, and other individuals who may be targeted for various reasons. For the loss of some of the convenience that Google usually packs into their programs and services, those who use the Advanced Protection Program can have their information protected by increased security measures.
This program will affect many of the services that most people use in one form or another almost every day, including Google Drive, Gmail, and YouTube. After an individual has been brought onto the program, their accounts are automatically equipped with Google’s best security solutions.
The Advanced Protection Program is largely in response to the high-profile attacks that were leveraged against officials throughout the United States presidential election of 2016. Google was caught up in the aftermath of the controversy surrounding John Podesta and his Gmail account, which was breached in a phishing attack. By implementing the Advanced Protection Program, Google is working to ensure that this backlash isn’t repeated in the future.
The Advanced Protection Program relies on a security key, as well as a Bluetooth key verification process for use with a smartphone or laptop.
The Advanced Protection Program does not allow any program that isn’t developed by Google itself to access the information on your Google account. It also features a more hacker-resistant, slower account recovery process. While this admittedly makes the process more arduous for the user, it provides the more secure experience that the audience described above needs.
If you were in a position to use the Advanced Protection Program, would you? Sound off in the comments section with your answer.
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