Slashdot Mirror
Google To Replace SMS Codes With Mobile Prompts in 2-Step-Verification Procedure (bleepingcomputer.com)
Starting next week Google will overhaul its two-step verification (2SV) procedure and replace one-time codes sent via SMS with prompts shown on the user's smartphone. From a report: This change in the Google 2SV scheme comes after an increase in SS7 telephony protocol attacks that have allowed hackers to take over people's mobile phone numbers to receive one-time codes via SMS and break into user accounts. The rollout process for this feature is scheduled to start next week when Google will invite users to try mobile prompts instead of receiving a one-time code via SMS. Users need an Internet-connected smartphone to use this feature. Every time users will try to log in, Google will show a prompt on their phone asking the account owner to approve the login request. There's no one-time code that users have to fill in, and users can authorize a login request with the tap of a button.
The battery in a normal phone self discharges the same as the battery in a dumbphone. The lion cells don't know what kind of device they're in.
A smartphone never really sleep when its not being used. If you have a lot of apps that do background refresh, the battery life between charges is significantly shorter than a dumb phone. I've heard that the Facebook app is a notorious battery drainer.