Google to simplify password protection with purchase of SlickLogin

17 Feb 2014

In a bid to make our accounts more secure but less complicated, Google has purchased Israeli start-up SlickLogin, a developer of audio password software, for an estimated US$7m.

Founded a little more than a year ago, the project was established to simplify the user identification process in smartphones by using a two-factor authentication system in what is expected to be a much more secure system.

While a two-factor authentication system already exists in a number of examples, such as receiving an access code through a text message, the SlickLogin method transmits an ultra-sonic frequency through a person’s smartphone which can be then picked up by his or her laptop or PC, making the whole process much faster and less susceptible to error.

Previous experience in two-step verification

Google has previously worked with two-factor verification with the text message model followed by its own Authenticator application.

The relatively cut-price deal of US$7m is expected of a company that has not even released an official product yet, with a team consisting only of the company’s three co-founders, Or Zelig, Eran Galili and Ori Kabeli.

In the company’s announcement of the partnership with Google, the three men said Google is the right fit for SlickLogin.

“Today we`re announcing that the SlickLogin team is joining Google, a company that shares our core beliefs that logging in should be easy instead of frustrating, and authentication should be effective without getting in the way.

“Google was the first company to offer two-step verification to everyone, for free – and they’re working on some great ideas that will make the internet safer for everyone. We couldn`t be more excited to join their efforts.”

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic

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