Google this week announced expansions to the Advanced Protection Program, with the addition of Google Nest and support for more types of security keys for iOS users.
With the Advanced Protection Program, the Internet search giant aims to provide the strongest possible Google Account security for individuals at high risk of targeted attacks.
The program is aimed at journalists, activists, business leaders, and people working on elections, but allows anyone to sign up and receive extra safeguards against phishing, malware, and fraudulent access to data.
Over the years, Google rolled out Advanced Protection Program features for many of its services, including GSuite, Google Cloud Platform, Chrome and, most recently, Android, and this week made it available for Google Nest as well, providing its users with an additional layer of security.
“Now people can seamlessly use their Google Accounts with both Advanced Protection and Google Nest devices — previously, a user could use their Google Account on only one of these at a time,” Google announced.
Also this week, the company started pushing native support for the W3C WebAuthn implementation for Google accounts on devices running iOS 13.3 and newer versions, for both personal and work Google accounts.
The new capability, the company says, allows the owners of iOS devices to use more types of security keys for Google Account and the Advanced Protection Program.
These include the USB-A and Bluetooth Titan Security Keys (both of which have NFC functionality built-in), Lightning security keys such as the YubiKey 5Ci or any USB security key (for those with an Apple Lightning to USB camera adapter), and USB-C security keys (on iOS devices with a USB-C port, such as an iPad Pro).
Google also suggests that users install the Smart Lock app, which allows them to use Bluetooth security keys and their phone’s built-in security key, so that their iPhones become additional security keys for their Google accounts.
“We highly recommend users at a higher risk of targeted attacks to get security keys (such as Titan Security Key or your Android or iOS phone) and enroll into the Advanced Protection Program. If you’re working for political committees in the United States, you may be eligible to request free Titan Security Keys through the Defending Digital Campaigns to get help enrolling into Advanced Protection,” Google notes.
iOS users can take advantage of the security keys for any site where FIDO security keys are supported for 2FA, such as Google Account, 1Password, Bitbucket, Bitfinex, Coinbase, Dropbox, Facebook, GitHub, Salesforce, Stripe, Twitter, and more.
Related: Google Simplifies Enrollment Process for Advanced Protection Program
Related: Google Open Sources Code for Security Key Devices
Related: Apple Joins FIDO Alliance
