Google has added a little bit of security & convenience for people who use Android. When someone logs into your Google account, Android will notify you directly.
As you know, when you use an Android device, you must have a Google account connected to the device. With that Google account, you can partake of nearly all of Google's ecosystem from different devices. Naturally, this means logging into your Google account multiple times. Having any kind of account on the internet also means people will sometimes try to access your account without your consent. This is where a little extra security comes into play.
Before now, Google has provided multiple ways of being notified of account activity. After toggling the correct settings, logging into your Google account results in an automated email alert. With 2-factor verification, you get an SMS message containing info necessary to complete the login process. You can also get monthly reports of the activity of your account. On top of that, Google occasionally prompts its users to review security settings & ensure things are OK.
Now, connected Android devices show a notification when someone logs into your Google account. If Google detects suspicious activity on your account, the notification links to your dashboard. From there, you can review recent activity on your account & take appropriate measures. According to Google, this approach of showing a native Android notification is more likely to get the user's immediate attention than sending an email.
The update supporting this new feature should silently roll out in the coming weeks. It is applicable to all Android versions with support for updating the core Google apps framework, and does not require a full OS update.
[Sources: CNET, Google (Apps Update blog)]
