Google’s own Authenticator app for Android has undergone a significant update that includes a full Material You redesign in addition to several new features.
In addition to a privacy screen that automatically locks the app when it’s not in use, either instantly or after a predetermined period, Google Authenticator now has a search bar for browsing through all of your accounts.
A feature that forbade users from taking screenshots of the Google Authenticator app was first introduced in the app.
New Material You UI
Another significant update is Google Authenticator 7.0, which now has a pill-shaped button at the top of the app that houses the account switcher and hamburger menu. User experience elements have been relocated to the navigation drawer, including the “how it works” guide, Settings, and Help and Feedback buttons.
In addition, there is a new flash option for scanning QR codes in low light thanks to a significant overhaul of the scanner’s user interface.
“No image data will be shared, only the scan results,” according to Authenticator, who says that this is powered by Google Play services and does not save any data.
On your device, scanning is done, and neither the scanned codes nor any image data are saved by Google.
Earlier in the year, these updates were added to the iOS app for iPhone and iPad, but Google Authenticator for Android version 7.0 is still not fully available through the Play Store.
One-time codes could potentially be generated by intercepting traffic and stealing 2FA seeds, as Google Authenticator was previously criticised for not encrypting app traffic end-to-end.
Moreover, Google is introducing several new features to its two navigation apps, Google Maps and Waze, including some that will make the two work together better.
Google Maps users can now report incidents similar to Waze and share updates about things like construction, road closures, speed cameras, and police presence through larger icons. The confirmation of incidents by tapping will be requested from other drivers.