The vast majority of Google’s customers choose not to enable strong authentication (two factors), and yet, the firm’s Palo Alto plancherait already on a solution for enhanced security, to three factors.

To access their Gmail, some customers will have to insert a USB key

The product is not yet official, but according to the testimonies of anonymous contributors from Google collected by Bloomberg, the strengthening of the security of the firm’s products would be in the cards. In November 2017, Google is expected to propose to the bosses of large companies and politicians of the USB keys physical. Once this additional safety device is activated, Gmail, Google Drive and other Google’s application should operate only when the USB key is inserted.

The holders of these accounts ulta-secure will also see Google to prohibit access to their account to third-party sites. It will not be possible, for example, to connect their accounting software to the spreadsheet program Google Sheets, transfer videos from their phone to YouTube, or synchronize the calendar of a smartphone with the Google Calendar.

Google wants to position itself as a provider of communications 100 % secure

As with any safety device, protection always comes at the price of comfort and ease of use. The insertion of a mandatory USB key means that the holder of an account enhanced security will not be able to view his emails on his smartphone. The lack of current interest of the users for the security of two factors is an eloquent testimony. Moreover, in almost all cases relayed by the media, where policy makers are made to intercept their e-mails, SMS or telephone communications, they used the hardware quite normal, for convenience, even if they had access to the copyrighted material and specially designed for them.

One thing is certain in any case : with this new product, Google wants to regain the trust of its clients and position itself as an it service provider for ultra-secure organizations who need extra protection of their data.