Have you ever created an email account or an account to a website and it asks you if you’d like to use your phone as a security device? This is called multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA).
What is it?
“Multi-factor authentication is an electronic authentication method in which a computer user is granted access to a website or application only after successfully presenting two or more pieces of evidence to an authentication mechanism: knowledge, possession, and inherence.” -
Wikipedia
That’s great and all, but what’s the point?
The point is software and hardware separation. In this day and age, having a password is not always enough. Scammers and Hackers are more creative than ever. If all they have to do is get your password to steal your personal information, or financial information, you are an easy target. MFA allows you to require an extra layer of security, from a separate device, to get into your accounts and access your data.
How does that work?
If you have a second layer of protection that you have in your hand, then if someone gets your password, they still can’t access your information. The three most common ways to use 2FA are a phone where security codes are texted to you, an password protected authenticator app on your phone that has security codes that refresh every 30 seconds, or a random code generating device, usually a USB device, that generates a random string of between 25 and 50 characters when activated.
What are some other forms?
There are, of course, other types of MFA, like Biometrics (Iris scan, Fingerprint, Voice, Facial Recognition, etc.), Location (GPS Ping, Geofencing, IP Address verification, Etc.), and more.
Is it foolproof?
Unfortunately, not all forms of MFA are foolproof. If someone had your password for a site and also could intercept your text messages, they could possibly get into your stuff. The safest ways are your Biometrics, like mentioned above, as they are much harder to fake or replicate, or a piece of hardware like the USB device mentioned above.
Do I really need it?
Yes! Even though not all forms of MFA are foolproof and having one more thing to do when you are logging into something may seem like extra work, it is far worth having the peace of mind that you are keeping your data safer than your average Joe.
What else can I do to protect my data?
Antivirus / Anti-malware programs on your computer, Network security devices like a firewall, Using more secure passwords, and forming good security practices when using the internet.
Have questions?
We sell everything mentioned here, and we can provide and implement all of these solutions for you or your company. Feel free to reach out to us on our website or on our Facebook page. We'd love to hear from you!