Google To Eliminate SMS Authentication in Gmail, Implement QR Codes

Google is preparing to abandon SMS verification codes for Gmail authentication in favor of QR codes, Gmail spokesperson Ross Richendrfer told Forbes. The move aims to address significant security vulnerabilities inherent in SMS-based verification while combating fraudulent exploitation of Google's messaging infrastructure, he said.
"Just like we want to move past passwords with the use of things like passkeys, we want to move away from sending SMS messages for authentication," Richendrfer said.