Google will set two-factor authentication by default for 150 million users

Google will introduce mandatory two-factor authentication for 150 million of its users, the company said. The same company will require the two million content creators on YouTube to do the same.

In a blog post, Google noted that in addition to passwords, having a two-factor form of authentication "greatly reduces the chances of an attacker gaining access to an account."

From a Google statement

Because we know that the best way to keep our users safe is to turn on our protections by default, we've begun automatically moving our users' accounts to a more secure state. By the end of 2021, we plan to automatically enroll an additional 150 million Google users in 2-Step Verification and require 2 million YouTube creators to enable it.

When logging into their account on any Google service, the user, with two-factor authentication enabled, will have to confirm that it is him, using another authorized device. For example, if someone wants to open Google mail through a computer, they will receive a notification on their phone asking them to confirm authorization.

In 2018 , Google claimed that only 10% of its active accounts used two-factor authentication. Since then, the company has been pushing users to turn on additional security protections.