If you ever want to log into your Google account when you’re at a public computer, where you’re unsure whether or not there’s a keylogger installed, there’s now a solution. And it’s from Google!
First, point the (insecure) computer’s browser at accounts.google.com/sesame. Now pull out your Android or iPhone, and take a shot of the QR code that pops up on screen. This will signal to Google’s servers that you’re at this terminal and will log you into your Google account without any further typing.
Of course, you’re going to have to be logged into your Google account on your phone, but theoretically your phone is secure, while the terminal you’re at is not. Also, make sure to log off when you’re done!
Google Debuts Secure Password-Free Login via QR Code [Softpedia via Google Plus]
Republished from Lifehacker.
Sicarius123
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:47 PMIf I had an internet connected smart phone, why would I need to use a public computer?
Stew
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 1:10 PMYou might be overseas, or at an airport in some country doing a stopover for a few hours, or your phone might be flat/broken, or you don’t trust that “free wifi” and want guaranteed HTTPS… there’s 4 reasons off the top of my head
Just This Guy ...
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 4:04 PMWell if your phone’s broken, it won’t work anyway will it!
Stew
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 4:45 PMTouché, but I was answering “why would I need to use a public computer?” for any reason, not specifically Gmail’s QR code thinger.
Mac
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 6:13 PMThis comment has been deemed inappropriate and has been deleted.
Sicarius123
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 8:28 PMIf I re-phrased it to “If I had a smartphone connected to the internet , why would I need to use a public computer?” would that be better?
Seriously, you’re having to use the internet on your smartphone to do this anyway.
haha
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 1:21 PMbecause writing emails on a fone is a b*tch and i cant “delete” emails using iphone for gmail. i can only archive them
Royal Cootified
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:50 PMThis comment has been deemed inappropriate and has been deleted.
Royal Cootified
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:51 PMI took the picture and all it did was store in my album, like it’s suppose to. Clearly there is an extra step missing.
Biderjum
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:54 PMtake the picture with google app and follow the link returned
Royal Cootified
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:55 PMYes. Thank you.
Biderjum
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:52 PMso i get how it works and I gave it a go and it worked.
HOWEVER, if it requires internet access on my phone, If I have internet on my phone, why wouldnt I just check my email on my phone?
Seems highly pointless, I also have to enter my password on my phone everytime.
Am I missing something?
Royal Cootified
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:54 PMI tried to say that in plain English and it got deleted.
Antonia
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 1:47 PMAnd you could just type your password in but that’s not the point. Say you wanted to do more than just read a few emails and you going to be happy using just one (or two) finger to do your work for an hour or so?
tellemhisdreamin'
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 2:12 PMwould be much better if app was stand alone, not internet connected. And was prt of a two-factor authentication, ie use app, scan QR, type result from smartphone on public PC. 2 factor, rolling, single use codes…. simples… but prob many patents around it ie RSA.
WP7 User
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 2:52 PM“Now pull out your Android or iPhone, and take a shot…”
Works on Windows7 using the built in Bing QR code reader too! (Why does Gizmodo hate the WP7 so much? :~( )
Apple FTW
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 4:01 PMI’m a long time Giz reader…
Whats this Windows Phone 7 thing you speak of?
haha
Danny Allen
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 6:13 PMJust because you’re last picked doesn’t mean we hate you. You’re still cute baby. Especially in that Nokia L900 dress.
Franz
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 5:44 PMSo what this article is saying is someone could use your phone to open your google account on their computer, then put your phone back on the table before you come back from the john, and then all your email are belong to them as long as they keep the connection open.
Needs an opt in/out system so people can protect themselves if they want to…
Tom
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 6:18 PMA lot of negative comments about this… I actually think its a great proof of concept (which is probably why google did it in the first place).
This could be applied for things like google docs which is not as easy to use on a small smart phone, or even other sites like internet banking (granted there might be some security concerns). Some sites just aren’t easy to use on a phone, or have limited functionality.
My 2c.
Nathan
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 8:35 AMDoesn’t matter now anyway. They’ve pulled the site