A revelation gets hidden again
The Google Authenticator app is an essential security tool for many people, even though there are many alternatives currently in the market. In May of this year, Google introduced the relatively minor “Click to Reveal PIN” feature, which hides all two-factor authentication codes from view, allowing users to reveal only the codes they want to use. It seemed like a fairly smooth inclusion, considering that 2FA codes change every 30 seconds anyway. But Google apparently doesn’t see it that way, as the feature disappeared from the Authenticator app after an update last week.
ANDROIDpolice video of the day
This removal is part of the Google Authenticator version 5.20R4 update (available via APK Mirror), with no other notable additions, 9to5Google reports. According to the release notes on the app’s Play Store listing, it includes device encryption for “storage of secret values.”
The only use case for the tap-to-reveal PIN feature is for situations when you have strangers around, such as in a crowded subway. But as we talked about above, with the code changing frequently, hiding them was never really a huge advantage. Google didn’t say why it reversed course on this particular feature, though we expect an explanation to come. There’s also always the chance that it could come back with or without change.
The latest update to Google’s Authentication app started rolling out on July 14, so it’s probably already live on your device if you’ve enabled auto-updates. Notably, the May 2022 update that brought it to version 5.20R2 and introduced the ability to hide 2FA codes was the app’s first in two years, so updates have been few and far between. But with the speed of these updates with revision updates coming in fast, we can see that things are changing right before our eyes and much faster than we think.
