Two-Factor Authentication, or 2FA, is just one of the ways to fight against the rise in cyber crimes. Two-factor is an extra layer of security used to make sure that people trying to gain access to an online account are who they say they are.
Has our world gone security crazy? Why aren’t passwords good enough any more? How can 2FA help? Let’s take a closer look at what two-factor is and how it can help in the world of online security.
Two-factor authentication works by using a device (smartphone) or email account as a secondary credential for accessing an account or network. For example, if you want to secure your Facebook account using two-factor authentication, you would login then the process would send a text message to your cell phone. That text message would have a code that lets the appropriate person into the Facebook account. Other examples include the use of a fingerprint or biometric scan or a code sent to an email address. It just ensures another level of security.
Why is this second step necessary? Computer experts have found that passwords are not nearly as secure as they used to be. Too many users are not practicing strong password protocols. In fact, 73% of online accounts are guarded by duplicate passwords and 54% of people use five or fewer passwords across their entire online life. In addition, 68% of professionals share passwords across personal work accounts via their mobile devices. Half of those surveyed had no password, PIN, or biometric security on their mobile phone, (Technologize).
In the face of the recent Reddit Attack, two-factor or 2FA has faced some criticism. Experts say it is not a fool-proof way to lock your accounts but that it is still much better than not using two-factor authentication at all. According to “How-to-Geek” online, “Security professionals who talk about SMS verification not being good enough are getting too far ahead of themselves. Over 90% of Gmail users aren’t using any two-factor authentication at all, according to a presentation Google engineer Grzegorz Milka gave at USENIX Enigma 2018. The number one thing most people can do to protect themselves online is to enable any type of two-factor authentication for their important accounts.”
If your business needs to protect sensitive data, two-factor authentication is definitely one line of defense you will need. Need help? Call M&H Consulting at 1-866-964-8324 or visit our website.
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