Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security to the authentication process by making it harder for attackers to gain access to a person's devices or online accounts.
Two-factor authentication (2FA), sometimes referred to as two-step verification or dual factor authentication, or multi-factor authentication (NFA) is a security process in which the user provides two different authentication factors to verify themselves to better protect both the user's credentials and the resources (think "money") the user can access .
Two-factor authentication provides a higher level of assurance than authentication methods that depend on single-factor authentication (SFA), in which the user provides only one factor -- typically a password or passcode. Two-factor authentication methods rely on users providing a password as well as a second factor, usually either a security token or a biometric factor like a fingerprint or facial scan.
Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security to the authentication process by making it harder for attackers to gain access to a person's devices or online accounts, because knowing the victim's password alone is not enough to pass the authentication check. Two-factor authentication has long been used to control access to sensitive systems and data, and online service providers are increasingly using 2FA to protect their users' credentials from being used by hackers who have stolen a password database or used phishing campaigns to obtain user passwords.
While no security product can claim to offer perfect, foolproof protection, but by combining two of the above three types of authentication, 2FA makes it harder to get into your account. You not only make your accounts more difficult to attack, but you also make your accounts less attractive targets.
When to use 2FA
Once someone gains access to your account, not only can they cause you financial loss, but also the loss of reputation and image. 81% of hacking-related breaches leveraged either stolen and/or weak passwords, according to Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations Report 2017. This is why I insist on 2FA. And according to a study by cybersecurity firm Symantec, 80% of data breaches could be eliminated by the use of two-factor authentication. Please set it up for financial services, and any place that stores credit cards.
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