In iOS 15/iPadOS 15 and Safari 15 for macOS, Apple took a big leap forward: it added direct support for time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs), a kind of verification code that Google first ...

Never give a verification code to a stranger. No one should ever ask you for a six-digit verification code — not a stranger on social media, not tech support, not even your bank.

Once you receive the verification code to your phone, you can enter it into a login page for a Google service to get access to your account. After you select which option you would like to choose ...

When you’re prompted for the code, your authentication app calculates one based on the current time, and, when you enter it, the account site can confirm it by running the same algorithm locally.

If you give anyone your verification code, they can log in and transfer all the money out of your accounts. Tips for how to stop the scammers Never, ever give your verification code to someone else.

Apple seems to have finally noticed the struggle, and in iOS 18.4, they’re rolling out a subtle but important fix inside the Passwords app: a countdown timer for verification codes.