• by Laurie Sullivan  @lauriesullivan, August 24, 2011

Google has introduced a method to secure photos in Google+ and authenticate users, as it continues to build a strong member base and develop services for advertisers and brands.

A feature for photo albums now allows users to see who comments and shares photos with others, and limits the amount of people who can see the pictures. Google+ engineer Jon Moon explains that the feature is similar to the one the social site offers for posts. At the top of the post, users will see Public, Extended or Limited circles.

Google also added verification badges. A gray checkmark will appear next to the name of public figures, celebrities and people who have been added to a large number of profiles that have been verified.

And while Google took the next step to verify profiles by adding verification badges, not everyone got the message. It didn't seem to work for New York Times political columnist Paul Krugman. It turns out Krugman's Google+ account is fake, started by a recently laid-off college graduate.

It unfolded after Tim Carney joked in a Twitter tweet that Krugman thought Tuesday's East Coast earthquake hadn't rocked Washington hard enough, "presumably because more damage would have led to more government spending in response, which could create economic growth."

After reading the tweet, Carlos Graterol, the college graduate, posted a statement on a fake Google+ account he created under Krugman's name to impersonate the writer. In a blog post, Graterol admitted to having too much time on his hands after being laid off about a month ago and created a false account out of boredom to "kill some time and fully delve into what Google+ had to offer."

The Graterol blog, "Campaign Fix," focuses on sharing stories, news, commentary and analysis from the 2012 presidential campaign. Through the site, he aims to provide people with the latest on the 2012 presidential election. Who will believe him now?