This week, Google held its annual I/O Developer Conference, where the company unveiled new software updates such as: Android 13 and even some new hardware devices, including: Pixel 6a† Pixel 7and the Pixel watch† In addition, it also unveiled a number of security and privacy features coming to its apps and services later this year.
Google says it wants to protect users’ privacy and build a safer internet by protecting its products by default and privately, and putting the user in control of their data. To achieve this goal, Google has announced several new features such as account security status, automatic two-step verification, virtual cards and others coming soon to its services. Here’s everything you need to know.
New Security and Privacy Features Announced at Google I/O 2022
When asked how people trust large tech companies with their data, users tend to rate Apple higher than companies like Google and Meta, which are often found on the other end of the spectrum. But it seems that Google wants to change this perception. Here are some security and privacy features coming soon to Google apps and services.
Virtual Cards
The trend of shopping online, getting things straight to your letterbox, is not slowing down, and more and more people are making online payments every day. As the use of cards online increases, so does the risk of your payment information being exposed to hackers and cybercriminals. To protect your payment information, such as credit/debit card numbers, CVVs, and others, Google is launching a new feature called “Virtual Cards” in Chrome and Android.
When you’re currently paying for something online, you can automatically fill in payment and card details from Google’s pop-up menu. To add an extra layer of protection, Google is launching virtual cards that hide your actual card number from the payment system. It replaces your actual credit/debit card number with a clear, virtual number. You can generate, manage and view all transactions of your virtual card from pay.google.com later this year. The feature is exclusive to the United States for now, but Google may expand it to other regions in the future. Virtual cards will support all Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Capital One cards at launch.
My Ad Center
Google ads are everywhere. Most of the websites you visit, on YouTube, in Android apps, and even the Search and Discover feed, you can see a Google ad just about anywhere on the web. Currently, Google tailors ads based on what you’re looking for, likes, dislikes, and much more. In 2022, Google will give you more granular control over what types of ads you see.
Google has announced that it will be launching a new “My Ad Center” that will give people control and an easier way to choose whether to personalize your ads. “You can choose the types of ads you want to see — such as fitness, vacation rentals, or skin care — and learn more about the information we use to show them to you,” says the company. You can also flag certain types of ads so that you never see them again. The company will roll out My Ads Center later this year.
Secure computers
During the I/O keynote, Google announced that it is changing the way, when and where data is processed. The company announced “Protected Computing”, which will ensure the privacy and security of your data. Google says technological advancements have made it possible to drastically reduce the amount of personally identifiable data. The company says it intentionally adds “statistical noise” to extract your identity from your data. Finally, Google announced that it would continue to add end-to-end encryption to more and more services, making it impossible to access your sensitive data.
Remove personal information from Google Search
With so much data scattered across the internet, it’s possible that some of your personal information, such as email address, phone number, or home address, could show up in a Google search result. Google says users are now using their personal information removed from Google Search† This feature will be available in the Google app later this year. In addition, you can also submit a request by clicking the three dots next to individual Google search results.
Phishing protection and security status notification in more apps
Google already blocks phishing and spam messages in Gmail. The company says its system blocks nearly 15 billion phishing emails every day. The company says it is now extending its “proven” phishing protection to Google Docs, Slides and Sheets. If you open a Google doc, sheet, or presentation that contains a phishing link, you’ll get an on-screen notification. In addition, the company says it is now extending its account security status to more and more apps. If there is something wrong with the security of your account, a simple yellow warning icon will appear on your profile picture. It will then display actions you need to take to secure your account.
Automatic Two-Factor Authentication
Google says it is working on making passwordless login technology available to people. However, to ensure secure login, multi-factor authentication is very important. To make 2FA easier, Google is introducing two-step one-click authentication that doesn’t require the user to enter a six-digit authentication code. Instead, users can simply use their existing iOS and Android devices to approve login requests.
These are some of the features that will soon reach your Google accounts and services. Personally, I’m looking forward to the Virtual Card feature. Currently, this technology is available in the Apple Card. Whenever you use an Apple to make a non-Apple purchase online, it will generate a random card number every time.
However, the main difference between Apple’s and Google’s approaches is that Google’s virtual map technology works with almost all maps. The company works with all major card providers in the United States. It allows you to use your existing cards and is not limited to one card. What position are you excited about? Let us know in the comments below!
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