How to Use Two-Factor Authentication in 2021 with Ease

While many people are somewhat confused about “2-factor authentication (2FA)”, which is also known as 2-factor verification, it’s a really easy concept to understand. Think of your bank’s debit card: you insert the card into an ATM, but you’re unable to withdraw or deposit money until you complete the second step – entering your PIN number.

2-step verification for your online accounts or online banking works the same way, but instead of entering a PIN number, you may receive a text with an authentication code that you need to enter before accessing your account. In other instances, you may receive an email with the same information or use one of the authentication apps that are available – it’s your choice, and it also may depend on what the specific account has available. Think of it as a “one-time password”, which is used on top of your username and regular password.

2FA is not only for online accounts, it can be for social media logins or any online activity where sensitive or personal and financial data can be exposed. Currently, many online and social media providers are adding a question to their messages: ‘would you like to add 2-Factor Authentication to your account”. Those who are unfamiliar with 2-FA simply click ‘no thanks’ or ‘not at this time” and move on. But the more you understand the benefits of 2-FA, the more you’ll want to add it to each of your online accounts.

Why 2FA is a Smart Choice

So, why is 2FA so important to use? It helps to prevent you from being hacked! Cybercrooks are constantly looking for new ways to access your personally identifiable information and financial data, and whether they use phishing emails, scam phone calls or other means of breaking into your computer, they can’t bypass 2FA. It’s as simple as that! In fact, two-step verification will prevent 99% of all hacking attempts. And since the National Security Administration (NSA) states that there are 300 million hacking attempts every single day, 2-step verification is a must-have for your own protection.

When you set up your online accounts, you’re usually asked to create a username and a password. To create a strong password, you need at least 12 characters that include letters, numbers and symbols. Plus, you’re supposed to create and use a different password for every one of your accounts. To most people, that’s overwhelming, so they end up with a weak password, or they opt to use a password manager.

But hackers are good at what they do, and being good at stealing passwords is at the top of their list. Once they have your password, identity theft quickly follows, which can deal a devastating blow to your account security. 2FA works to prevent this, because unless the cybercrook is sitting next to you when you receive your 2FA code, there is no possible way that they can hack into your account – even if they have your username and password. Remember, 2FA can prevent 99% of hacking attempts!

Different Notification Methods

We’ve talked about receiving your 2FA code via text or email, but there are other ways you can be notified about your “one-time password” (OTP). One method is called “biometric recognition” – which uses voice recognition, your fingerprint or even facial recognition to complete the second step of the authentication process. More and more people are choosing this method, because it greatly speeds up the overall login process – you don’t have to wait for a text or email to deliver a code that you enter – just touch the screen and the software reads your fingerprint.

Another method being used is “push notifications” – where an online service sends you a notification each time a login attempt is made. This provides you with an opportunity to agree or deny the login, and if you do provide consent then a notice will be sent to the service’s server and complete the authentication.

The most secure but at this point least used method is a physical 2FA token, where you carry a  device that generates codes to unlock your accounts. This will gain in popularity over time as hacking continues to increase.

There are also apps that are now available to you that can generate secure codes. You’ll find them on various app stores and they’re also being provided by many social media networks and retail sites. One example is the Google Authenticator which you are able to download as a Google account holder. Microsoft also has its own app called the Microsoft Authenticator.

A good example for social media is Facebook, and once you enable 2FA it will provide codes directly to your Facebook account. The only downside is that it only works with Facebook and not with any other site. On the retail side, Amazon also has its own code generator, which like Facebook only works with your Amazon login. But many new apps are currently in development and should be available soon.

Issues with 2FA

Despite the fact that 2FA can prevent 99% of hacking attempts, 2FA is not flawless. You might run into some problems while using it, but they can be overcome.  For example, some people are locked out of logging into their accounts because their smartphone is broken, lost or stolen. The only way to fix this issue is to obtain a new phone with the same phone number, because that’s where the texts or emails will be sent.

Another thing to remember is that receiving your code via email is just not as secure as a text email. Plus, if the cyberthief is able to hack into your email, they will have access to your codes and can log into your accounts without you ever knowing. That can’t be done with a text code, unless the cybercrook is within eyeshot of your smartphone.

2FA is an exceptional level of security to have in order to prevent hacking and identity theft. Using the information listed above on 2FA will ensure the peace of mind you want in protecting your data.

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