Google Launches Exclusive Security Program for High-Profile Users

By Jessica Ferrera, Christian Post Contributor Friday, October 20, 2017

Google has recently confirmed and launched their special security program that will be offered only to exclusive customers who the company identifies as high-risk targets for email hacking and cyber attacks.

This week, Google unveiled the Advanced Protection Program, which the company calls their "strongest security." However, it will not be available in the wild and for everybody.

The Advanced Protection Program was created for select groups of users who Google said were "most at risk of targeted attacks." According to the company, these are the likes of business executives, political campaign teams and journalists, among others.

Since Google eyed to serve specific groups of consumers with the Advanced Protection Program, the company will not be taking down their other security feature - the two-step verification procedure - and it will remain available for everybody.

Meanwhile, Google listed three ways on how the Advanced Protection Program can secure Google Accounts: limiting third-party apps from accessing the user's sensitive data; requiring the Security Keys for logging in to avoid falling victim to phishing activities; and introducing more steps in the verification processes in case a user loses their password and Security Keys to prevent hackers from accessing a targeted account.

To join the Advanced Protection Program, users will be asked to first purchase Security Keys. The main device would be a Bluetooth key while a USB will serve as a backup.

In Google's website, they recommended the Feitian MultiPass FIDO Security Bluetooth key and FIDO U2F Security USB key that can be bought through Amazon for around $25 and $18, respectively.

Google Accounts users who already have these Security Keys can also use their existing Bluetooth and USB devices and proceed straight to registering and enrolling them in the Advanced Protection Program.

The recently announced Advanced Protection Program has already been leaked by people familiar to the matter. However, unlike what sources told Bloomberg last month, the Advanced Protection Program will not replace the two-factor authentication process.

The need for the Advanced Protection Program may have been realized after the widely publicized hacking of email exchanges among people attached to the presidential campaign of the Democratic Party's candidate, Hillary Clinton, and her campaign chairman, John Podesta.