SMS may have long been replaced by RCS and instant messaging apps in our daily communication, but it still has its uses in some niche situations. For example, many services continue to use SMS as a means of two-factor authentication, even though authenticator apps or even non-app methods are considered more secure and reliable. If you rely on SMS to access your Gmail account , there’s news — perhaps not pleasant, but certainly important: Gmail plans to phase out the use of SMS codes for two-factor authentication, in favor of QR codes.
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Google is planning to replace SMS codes with QR codes in Gmail, aiming to reduce the global abuse of SMS. While SMS codes are considered convenient, they come with significant challenges. They are vulnerable to phishing attacks, and users may not always have access to the device the codes are sent to. Additionally, their security depends on the practices of each provider, which means that if someone gains access to phone number , SMS no longer offers any meaningful protection.
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Google announced that it will overhaul its phone number verification process in the coming months. Instead of users entering their number and receiving a six-digit code in Gmail, a QR code will appear that they must scan using the camera app. This change aims to reduce the risk of phishing, protecting Gmail users from being scammed and sharing security codes with malicious people. It also eliminates the reliance on carriers to protect against abuse, providing a more secure and simplified experience.
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The report doesn't provide any more information on the exact details of QR code authentication, nor when Google plans to phase out SMS authentication in Gmail. All we know is that this change will happen in the future.
Source: androidauthority
