This is one of the most essential apps on my phone. I don’t know why I trust Google with my 2FA codes (I don’t really) but this is a very useful and important app. It is pretty basic as far as apps go, but it works for the intended purpose.They just added the ability to transfer 2FA codes when upgrading to a new phone. They released this feature less than a month after the second wave of new iPhones came out… so less than a month ago I did the transfer manually, turning 2FA off and back on for my new phone across a dozen services. Some were easy to transfer, others were the opposite. It took over an hour. Their timing with this feature is awful, but at least it’s here now I suppose.

There is no back up for Google authenticator. It may appear that there is one, but there really isn’t. If you lose your original device without first exporting, your Authenticator, you will not be able to access any of those accounts that you have with a two-step verification, uses us authenticator there is no other option. There is no option to access your previous Google authenticator. There’s no other option exported if you’ve deleted or erase the original phone. It is the biggest flaw in the system here every other Authenticator whether it’s Microsoft LastPass even there was random ones have some form of back up that don’t require you to actually export it first. Not google! it may look like there’s an option but there isn’t you must first exported before you do anything with your original device that means erase it anything which doesn’t make much sense because people are not gonna remember to do that. They’re only gonna remember to do some sort of back up option. if you set up on Google has another secondary two step verification either text message or something else but if you made Authenticator your primary two-step verification, you will probably have to do an account recovery to get into that account. If you not exported your Google authenticator previously which includes Google by the way.

Why anyone would use a Google app for authenticator anymore is a mystery to me. Google doesn’t really maintain or support apps, they just change them and then you often lose things. Why have an app where you have to be worried about being singed into Google all the time? That’s not something many of us want at baseline. I’m addition you have to worry about transferring accounts and worry about if you forget to handle it right when you get a new device. I regret I ever used Google authenticator on a few accounts only to find out I could no longer do auth on those accounts when Google just changed the whole thing. I had to go to a bunch of trouble to finally to get back into my accounts. I’m so glad my cybersecurity friend got me to convert to using 1Password many years ago. I love it and when it comes to authenticator capability it’s so much easier and makes so much more sense. They make it so easy to add authenticator to a sign in process, and saves the one-time password generator right in the entry in your personal vault along with the sign in for that particular account. This backs up to the cloud and goes with you when go to your new device. They maintain and support the app through the years, you can have it in any device or add it to any browser. No more worrying about being logged into Google and losing your ability to get into your accounts when Google changes their authenticator app.

It’s pretty disappointing that they are willing to sell your information, it even states…including your private healthcare information. As they collect data as you go and store it then sell it to third parties. As you are coming here for this app in an attempt to protect yourself and your information from others. But it tells you where their loyalties lie in their own privacy policy. They contradict themselves through out their entire policy too. Sadly most people don’t read those things and have no idea that they actually are being tracked and things are being collected about you, only to be sold to a third party of their choice. Can be as many third parties as they choose! Talk about feeling protected…definitely don’t feel protected when the wealthy are collecting even my health data and selling it off to third parties! It’s pretty sad the extent that the wealthy go to in order to make more money off of selling all of us out. Helping little old ladies get conned from their life savings and veterans conned from their benefits. Not to mention the people who have mental illnesses lose everything and those who work hard for the minuscule amount that the wealthy pay, get robbed too! It’s just disgusting to know that these people would sell you out to add a dollar to their portfolio. As if they don’t already steal enough from us as it is! Disgraceful! Yeah this is not going to keep you safe, in fact it’s going to make you a mark for the private parties who have more ammunition to use against you! Be safe people and don’t give the wealthy anymore money!