Google announced on Thursday, May 3, that it is improving its Advanced Protection Program by including support for Apple's native iOS apps.

What Is The Advanced Protection Program?

In October 2017, Google launched the Advanced Protection Program, its most vigorous and robust technology platform that provides an additional layer of security to certain accounts. It was designed only for Google-based apps and software, such as Gmail.

Google developed the Advanced Protection Program for users who require more protection against sophisticated attacks. Journalists, activists, business leaders, and politicians are among the users that Google targeted to join the program.

When users opt in to the Advanced Protection Program, they are required to use a physical security key instead of a two-step verification. Although this extra step might seem tedious, Google believes that it will help block fraudulent access to accounts.

With the tight security requirements in the program, users would not be able to use untrusted accounts outside of Google for accessing data. For example, a user cannot forward an email from Gmail to Apple Mail.

Expanding To Apple Products

As of May 3, users can now use applications from iOS devices within the Advanced Protection Program. With over 40 percent of smartphone users having an iPhone, this news is good.

"With today's update, you can now choose to allow Apple's native iOS applications to access your Gmail, Calendar, and Contacts data," wrote Dario Salice, Advanced Protection Product Manager, on Google's blog.

Users who access their iOS applications on Google devices will be prompted to complete the process to join the program. Google also hopes to expand the program to other apps in the future.

How Vulnerable Is Google To Hacking?

The expansion of the Advanced Protections Program stems from multiple high-profile cyberattacks, such as the Russian hacking of email accounts during the 2016 Presidential election, and the recent Facebook-Cambridge Analytica Scandal.

Although Facebook has been in the news more often for data breaches, Google might be the bigger target for hackers as it holds significantly more data than Facebook.

In 2017, it was reported that tens of millions of email accounts from Gmail, as well as Yahoo, were being sold on the dark web, which means they were hacked. It is common for some Gmail users to be victimized by hackers. One study found that nine in 1 million Gmail users get hacked, and the chances of a hack increases if a contact's account was also breached.