How to Use Google Advanced Protection Program

Use Google Advanced Protection Program: To secure the accounts of high-risk users from targeted attacks, Google offers its Advanced Security Program. The Advanced Protection enables only Google apps and a handful of third-party apps to access your emails and Drive files by adding additional steps to check your identity during account recovery.

To enroll yourself in Advanced Protection, simply buy two security keys and register them to your Google Account. However, you can also register yourself to Advanced Protection using your phone’s built-in privacy and security key on Android and iOS. Let’s come and check how to Use Google Advanced Protection Program.

What do you need to activate Google Advanced Protection

Google also offers its top-of-the-line security system to defend against account hacking, phishing, and hackers from mimicking you. However, the system needs the following things:

• Physical security keys or an Android with a built-in security key.
• While using an Android phone as your primary key, make sure it’s running on Android 7.0 or higher.
• Advanced Protection is also supported on iPhones running iOS 10.0 or later.
• Allow 2-Step Verification on your Google account before enrolling in Google Advanced Protection/Security.

Where can you buy security keys for Advanced Protection

Google wants you to add two keys to use with Advanced Security. However, a primary key that attaches to both phones and PC’s also a backup key that only connects to PC via a USB.

• Google Titan Security Key Bundle: Engineered by Google itself, the Titan Security Key is built on FIDO open standards and works on both USB and Bluetooth connected devices.
• YubiKey 5 NFC Security Key: Google also suggests the YubiKey 5 NFC by Yubico that is FIDO certified and can be put into a USB-A port or connected using NFC.
• Yubico FIDO U2F and FIDO2 Certified Security Key: It is also made by Yubico. This key is compatible with any FIDO-compliant application on Mac OS, Windows, or Linux. Also, it supports FIDO U2F and FIDO2 protocols.
• Yubico YubiKey 5C: The key is compatible with laptops having USB-C ports.
• Any Android device running Android 7 or higher can be used as a security key. Also, an iPhone running iOS 10.0 or later.

How to set up your phone as a security key

To allow Advanced Protection on your Google account, you need to enable Google to use your phone’s built-in security key. However, you can set this up by following the instructions below.

Step 1: 

Initially, open the Google app on your Android phone.

Step 2:

Click on the More button at the bottom right.

Step 3:

Press the down arrow next to your account name.

Step 4:

Click on Manage your Google Account. A new page appears.

Step 5:

Click Get Started.

Step 6:

Now move through the tabs at the top and choose the Security tab.

Step 7:

Also, Click on 2-Step Verification.

This will open up the default web browser on your Android phone.

Step 8:

Simply sign in to your Google account on the next page. Input the password and click on the Next button.

Step 9:

After signing in, simply click on the Add Security Key under the Security Key (Default) section.

Step 10: 

Now choose your Android phone from the compatible list.

Step 11:

Click on Add.

You’ll now view confirmation that your phone added as a security key.

Step 12:

Simply click on the Done button at the bottom right.

That’s it! Now your phone is ready to use as a security key for future logins on other devices.

How to enroll in Google’s Advanced Protection

Once you enable your phone’s built-in security key to sign in to Google, your next step will be to allow Google’s Advanced Protection for better security.

Step 1:

Firstly, open the Google Advanced Protection page on your device.

Step 2:

Now click on the Next button.

Step 3:

On the next page, input your credentials and click on the Next button.

You’ll now view that your latest registered Android device with a privacy and security key. The key is mentioned on Google’s Advanced Protection page.

Step 4:

Click on Enroll.

A new page displaying all the things you need to take care of to make Advanced Protection work.

Step 5:

Click on Finish enrollment.

That’s all. Now your account is secured by Google’s Advanced Protection Program.

How to add a backup key

After enrolling the Advanced Protection, you simply add a backup key to your Google account by clicking I already have a key or opt to continue without one by clicking Add key later.

Note: Your Android or iOS smartphone cannot be used as a recovery key as Google needs you to use physical keys to sign in to Google. However, you can also use two physical keys rather than using a combination of your phone as a primary key and a secondary physical key.

Allowing Google Advanced Protection also serves with a notification that says Your security key is ready to use.