Forbes reports that anyone who wants to authenticate a Google account will soon be unable to do so with an SMS. Google wants to replace the system with a more secure QR code.
The tech giant believes that the current system, in which a six-digit code is sent via text message, is too insecure. These text messages could be intercepted.
The authentication codes via text message are still used to verify whether you are indeed the owner of your Google account and, according to Google, to ensure that criminals do not create thousands of Gmail accounts to send spam.
Two-step verification, including SMS, is always better than no additional verification, but the SMS codes pose a security risk. Attackers could intercept the codes or convince victims to give them the code.
As an alternative, Google sees a QR code. Users then have to scan this with their smartphone to indicate that it is them, a system also used by Authenticator, for example.