April 25, 2023 at 6:55 a.m. PT Image: ZDNET Running Google Authenticator on your mobile device is an effective way to protect your online accounts and logins with two-factor authenticator codes.

You'll get a QR code or setup key. Next, open the Google Authenticator app and tap the plus sign. Record the 2FA code/key. Whenever you're asked for the 2FA code, open Google Authenticator to find it.

Google ads for Google Authenticator on Google search may not be genuine even when verified by Google. The worrying case of a fake 2FA app malware attack.

Google isn’t the only firm offering 2FA sign-in codes to provide backups. Since 2019, Microsoft has allowed people to use a “backup and restore” tool for its Microsoft Authenticator app.