Technology

How to use your phone as a two-factor authentication security key

Published

2 years ago

March 29, 2022

How to use your phone as a two-factor authentication security key

If you wish to confirm your Google login and make it tougher to entry by anybody however your self (at all times a good suggestion), a technique is to make use of your iPhone or Android smartphone as a bodily safety key. When you can arrange a third-party 2FA app equivalent to Authy and even use Google’s personal Authenticator, these require that you just enter each your password and a code generated by the app. Google’s built-in safety means that you can entry your account by simply hitting “Sure” or urgent your quantity button after a pop-up seems in your telephone. You can even use your telephone as a secondary safety key.

Use your telephone to sign up

To set this up, your pc ought to be working a present model of Home windows 10, iOS, macOS, or Chrome OS. Earlier than you begin, guarantee that your telephone is working Android 7 or later and that it has Bluetooth turned on.

Whereas it’s unlikely you’ve an Android telephone that doesn’t have a Google account related to it, for those who’re one of many few, you must add a Google account to your telephone by heading into Settings > Passwords & accounts, scroll right down to and choose Add account > Google
As soon as that’s executed, open a Google Chrome browser in your pc
Head into myaccount.google.com/safety on Chrome and click on on Use your telephone to sign up

Enter your account password. You’ll be requested to fulfill three steps: select a telephone (when you have a couple of), ensure you have both Contact ID (for an iPhone) or a display screen lock (for an Android), and add a restoration telephone quantity.

You’ll be asked to satisfy three steps. — *You’ll be requested to fulfill three steps.*

You’ll then be run by way of a check of the system and invited to show it on completely.

Use your telephone as a secondary safety key

You can even use your telephone as a secondary safety key to make sure that it’s certainly you who’re signing into your account. In different phrases, to get into the account, it will likely be essential to be carrying the proper telephone with a Bluetooth connection.

For those who don’t have two-step verification arrange but, return to your account safety web page, click on on 2-Step Verification and comply with the directions. The TL;DR is that you just’ll must log in, enter a telephone quantity, and choose what secondary strategies of verification you’d like.
Scroll down the checklist of secondary strategies and choose Add safety key.
And once more, choose Add safety key.

You can choose your phone, a USB drive or an NFC key to act as a security key. — *You’ll be able to select your telephone, a USB drive or an NFC key to behave as a safety key.*

You’ll be given the selection of including your telephone (or one in all your telephones, when you have a couple of) or a bodily USB or NFC key. Choose your telephone.
You’ll get a warning that you must preserve Bluetooth on and that you may solely sign up utilizing a supported browser (Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge).

That’s it! You’ve arrange your telephone as a safety key and may now log in to Gmail, Google Cloud, and different Google companies and use your telephone as the first or secondary methodology of verification.

When you sign in to your Google account, your phone will ask you to confirm the sign-in. — *Whenever you sign up to your Google account, your telephone will ask you to substantiate the sign-in.*

Your phone will then confirm your ID with your computer using Bluetooth. — *Your telephone will then affirm your ID together with your pc utilizing Bluetooth.*

Simply make sure that your telephone is in shut proximity to your pc everytime you’re making an attempt to log in. Your pc will then let you know that your telephone is displaying a immediate. Comply with the instructions to confirm your login, and also you’re all set!

Replace March twenty ninth, 2021, 11:20AM ET: This text was initially printed on April twelfth, 2019, and has been up to date to account for adjustments within the Google interface.

Technology

Silo season 2 hits Apple TV Plus this November

Published

1 hour ago

July 28, 2024

Press Room

Silo season 2 hits Apple TV Plus this November

The end of the world just got a little closer. Apple confirmed that the much-anticipated second season of its postapocalyptic series Silo will start streaming on November 15th.

Based on the trilogy of novels by Hugh Howey, Silo is set in the distant future and follows the remains of humanity, who live in giant underground bunkers — the titular silos — to avoid the deadly world outside. The season 1 finale ended with a big twist that made it clear there’s a lot more going on than the show initially lets on. It also only covers part of the first book, so it’ll be interesting to see how much of the story the new season covers. Silo’s second season will see returning cast members like Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, and Common.

Technology

How to connect your AirPods to your PC and Android devices

Published

2 hours ago

July 28, 2024

Press Room

How to connect your AirPods to your PC and Android devices

Just because Apple’s AirPods are designed for other Apple devices doesn’t mean they will only work on Apple devices.

That’s right, you can use your AirPods on your PC or Android-running mobile device. It isn’t as simple as setting up AirPods with an iPhone or Mac, but it’s also not too complicated.

Follow these steps to connect your AirPods to a Windows PC or Android.

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AirPods and an Android (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to connect AirPods to a PC

Insert the AirPods into their charging case, ensuring they’re at least partially charged.
Open the top of your AirPod charging case, but do not remove the AirPods from the case yet.
Tap and hold the circular button on the rear side of the AirPod charging case for a couple of seconds until the light inside the case blinks white.

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The circular button on the back of the AirPod case (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Now, open your PC’s Bluetooth settings by clicking the Bluetooth icon in the system tray (bottom right of the taskbar) or by searching for “Bluetooth” in your taskbar and selecting Bluetooth and other device settings.
Click “Add Bluetooth or other devices” at the top of the settings screen.
On the “Add a device” page, click the top option for Bluetooth.

Bluetooth and device settings on a PC (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Click the AirPods option from the list of all Bluetooth discoverable devices.
Wait around 30 seconds, and you should see a connection confirmation screen once your AirPods and PC are paired and connected.

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Troubleshooting a failed connection

When you take your AirPods out of their charging case, they should automatically connect to your PC. If your AirPods are having trouble connecting to your PC, don’t panic. Close your AirPods case and your PC’s Bluetooth settings and simply repeat the pairing process outlined above. Your AirPods should automatically connect to your PC after a few seconds every time you remove them from the charging case. If, for any reason, they don’t, follow these steps:

Open your PC’s Bluetooth settings by clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the bottom-right system tray of your taskbar. Alternatively, you can search for “Bluetooth” in your taskbar and select “Bluetooth and other device settings” when it appears.
Scroll down to the Audio section under your Bluetooth list and click on the AirPods listing.
This should reestablish the Bluetooth connection between your PC and AirPods.

Remember that Siri is Apple-only, so you won’t be able to use the voice assistant while your AirPods are connected to your PC.

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Pair AirPods with your Android phone

Connecting AirPods to an Android device is similar to connecting to a PC. Before doing anything, you’ll want to ensure that your AirPods are charged and housed in their case.

Swipe down from the top of the screen on your Android device
Touch and hold the Bluetooth icon
Turn on Bluetooth
Tap Pair new device

AirPods and an Android (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Open the lid of your AirPod case, but don’t remove the AirPods from the case.
On your AirPod case, press and hold the button on the rear of the case until the case flashes a white light.
Your AirPods should show up in your Bluetooth devices list.

If you can’t find your AirPods in your Android Bluetooth devices list, check for them under “Available Devices” in your Bluetooth settings. You can also refresh the Bluetooth list by clicking More and then “Refresh.”

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Kurt’s key takeaways

And there you have it. Now, you can easily connect your AirPods to your Windows PC or Android device. Remember, if your AirPods don’t appear in your PC or Android’s Bluetooth device list, simply restart the Bluetooth pairing process. Also, note that Apple-specific features like Siri won’t be available with your AirPods if you use them from a PC or Android device.

What other Apple accessories or devices would you like to see become more compatible with non-Apple platforms and why? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Marvel is bringing the Russo Bros. back to direct the next two Avengers films

Published

8 hours ago

July 28, 2024

Press Room

Marvel is bringing the Russo Bros. back to direct the next two Avengers films

During Marvel’s Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con, the studio announced that the Russo brothers have signed on to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars — the former of which will see Robert Downey Jr, return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. Doomsday is due out in May 2026, while Secret Wars will follow in May 2027.

Doctor Doom showing up just as the Fantastic Four are about to arrive makes it seem like Marvel’s been cooking up a plan to send its beleaguered Multiverse Saga off with a bang — one that’s probably going to be orchestrated by a guy who looks just like Iron Man.