Get the latest tech news

Google is trying, but authentication is still terrible

Nobody likes the extra steps.

(Image credit: Android Central)Google thinks it would be better and easier to show you a QR code you can scan to supply proof of ownership than send you an SMS message. I can't use an authenticator app because I need access to set one up or switch to a new one in my Google account, so I have to use the fallback method. We've seen things progress from an on-device keychain that holds auth methods to fingerprint scans, to Passkeys, and now QR codes.

Get the Android app