Google is adopting a new two-step verification method that requires use of a USB security key to stop phishing and hacks on the user side. It is becoming one of the best ways to protect data and will be used whenever a user signs into a Google account, offering a quicker and more reliable way of protecting their information.

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The security key has already been adopted by a few companies, allowing users to access private material in companies. It is only just starting to become recognized on the Web for consumers, and Google wants to be one of the first supporters out the door.

Google will work on the FIDO Alliance U2F protocol with the security key, allowing users to buy one USB that will work with most websites. This is the industry standard, and unless Apple enters the ring, it will most likely stay that way.

People interested in the security key will have to fork out a few dollars - the security keys are not expensive. Google will not be shipping their own key on the Google Play Store, it will only update its apps to recognize the key and accept it as verification.

Having two-step verification, even on sites like Facebook, Twitter and Google, is needed today. It is too easy for hackers to get inside an account using a password and username alone, so even adding a phone number helps slow hackers down.

The security key will help even more, since hackers cannot replicate the cryptography added onto the security key in the same way they can replicate a smartphone.

TagsUSB security key, two-step verification, Google accounts