Rule number one for secure passwords is don’t reuse simple passwords across sites and services. Because chances are, that password has been exposed in a breach, putting your accounts in jeopardy of being hacked. But people are creatures of habit, and even the most tech-savvy web user can get lazy and re-use terrible passcodes.
Google Chrome already warns you if you’re using compromised passwords, but going forward, it will help you change bad passcodes with just a tap.
“On supported sites, whenever you check your passwords and Chrome finds a password that may have been compromised, you will see a ‘Change password’ button from Assistant,” Google announced today at its I/O developer conference. “When you tap the button, Chrome will not only navigate to the site, but also go through the entire process of changing your password.”
To start, the option will be available in the US for Chrome on Android, if you sync your passwords. But Google says it’s coming to more sites and countries in the coming months. On unsupported sites, Chrome’s password manager will suggest changes you can make manually.
The feature is powered by Google Duplex, a tool Google first showed off at I/O 2018, which helps complete annoying tasks, like making phone calls or buying movie tickets.
“Since then, we’ve expanded to even more tasks, now helping millions of people every week order food and check in to flights,” Patrick Nepper, Chrome Senior Product Manager, says in a blog post. “Powered by Duplex on the Web, Assistant takes over the tedious parts of web browsing: scrolling, clicking and filling forms, and allows you to focus on what’s important to you.”
The news comes shortly after Google said it’s preparing to automatically turn on two-factor authentication for user accounts rather than make it opt-in. It will start with users who regularly sign in to their account and engage with Google products on their mobile devices, and have recovery information saved to their accounts, such as a secondary phone number or email.
