Google's Advanced Protection Program with iPhone and iPad

Update: I'm working on an open source security key called Solo, check it out!

This is the first in a series of blog posts about my experience with Google’s Advanced Protection Program, recently launched to strengthen the security of your Google account. In this post we’ll focus on how it works with iOS devices.

Advanced Protection is primarily intended, as Google suggests, for “journalists, activists, business leaders, and political campaign teams.” I think it’s a great tool for everyone, especially if you’re concerned about the security of your Google account, such as if it’s the recovery email of your bank account, or if you use a regular gmail account for your projects or small business.

In short, if you have an iPhone or iPad and you want to enable Advanced Protection:

1. You have to buy two security keys, and I recommend you the DIGIPASS SecureClick and/or the Feitian MultiPass ($50–80, read more below on “How do I buy the right security key.”)
2. On your iPhone/iPad you have to install the Google Smart Lock app, and use that to log in into your Google account.
3. You have to use a regular gmail account — company accounts aren’t yet supported.