Everything in life comes with some sort of risk, and to reduce the level of danger, we take several safety measures. For instance, when we buy a home, we install security system devices like motion sensors, home alarms, security cameras, and other smart technology products. These devices are meant to safeguard the home by adding a layer of protection and reducing the risk of burglary or other criminal offenses. Likewise, when we buy any valuable asset like gold, silver, diamond, etc., we keep it safe in a locker to protect it from thieves. Just the way we take care of our home or other assets, we need to take care of our precious data saved online. With the rising number of electronic devices, we save our sensitive information online, which is exposed to several risks like data breaches, malware, device theft, etc. And to protect ourselves from being a victim, we must safeguard our data with digital security methods like two-factor authentication.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a safety measure that serves as an additional barrier to ensure no one else can gain access to your personal information. If you are interested in knowing more about it, here’s an in-depth guide. Scroll down and learn what 2FA is, why it is essential, its factors, etc.
What is Two-Factor Authentication?
Two-factor authentication, a.k.a 2FA, is a security process that adds an extra layer of protection to user accounts, apps, and networks. It is a supplement to digital passwords and requires the users to submit two independent authentication factors to validate their identity to access something. This kind of verification is also referred to as two-step verification or dual-factor authentication. Such an authentication makes it difficult for cybercriminals to get access to a compromised account.
Such kind of verification has been used to safeguard sensitive data and information from phishing attempts. While today, everyone uses it to stay ahead of security threats, it is largely used by people or organizations who have the sensitive information of millions of users. Some of the vertices that use this security are:
1. Banks and credit card companies
2. Medical and healthcare organizations
3. Retail companies
4. Shopping websites
5. Travel industry
6. Government agencies
7. Social media accounts & productivity apps
8. Educational institutions like colleges & universities
Importance Of Two-Factor Authentication
2FA is a core aspect of a zero-trust security strategy and holds great importance in today’s digital world. To understand the significance, ask yourself– When was the last time you updated your account password? Do you use different passwords for different accounts or have the same for all? Is your password made up of terms that are simple to guess? Answering these questions will help you understand how secure your accounts are. And if you think that your password is not enough to safeguard them from prying eyes, then it's time to use two-factor authentication.
Such verification reduces the account's vulnerability to hacking and protects sensitive data from various security threats like credential exploitation, phishing, brute-force attacks, etc. If you use 2FA on your accounts or computing devices, the attackers won’t be able to pretend to be you and gain access to the information or data stored in it. It provides a high level of security, and hence, it is crucial to be used to stay safe. Some of the threats it addresses and provides protection against include:
- Phishing Attempts
- Key Logging
- Social Engineering
- Stolen Passwords
Factors of 2F Authentication
2FA requires more than one type of verification to approve the access request. The information provided by the user to confirm their identity is known as a factor of authentication. Some of them are:
1. Knowledge Factor
It is the most common authentication method. Knowledge factor authentication requires a person to confirm their identity by putting in the information only they know about. This might include a password, PIN, security question, OTP, etc.
2. Possession Factor
This is another factor that demands the information that only they would possess for verifying their identity. It includes a smartphone authenticator app, security token, push notification, an identification card, PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) certificate, or other objects that a person owns.
3. Location Factor
Location factor, also known as ‘where you are,’ is a form of authentication that validates the user’s identity based on their physical location. Such a method keeps the account safe by tracing the login location and notifying the user about the same.
4. Biometric Factor
A biometric factor or inherence factor is based on the physical features of an individual. It verifies the identity using the attributes that belong to the owner like fingerprint, voice, face, typing habit, etc. Since these factors are unique to every individual, they confirm if someone else is trying to access the account.
5. Time Factor
This form of two-factor authentication validates the user’s identity by contesting the time of the access attempt. It is based on a specific pattern of the user, like signing in time. If any activity occurs outside the predictable time ranges, this factor requires the user to confirm their identity to proceed further.
Common FAQs
Q1. What are the different types of two-factor authentication?
There are different forms of 2FA methods for verifying the user’s identity. While there are several options available, some of the common methods include:
- SMS 2FA
- TOTP 2FA
- App-Generated Codes
- push-based 2FA
- WebAuthn
- Physical Authentication Keys
- Email-Based Systems
Q2. What are the other ways than 2FA for account security?
While two-factor authentication is a great way of securing the accounts and preventing sensitive data from being accessed by unauthorized people, there are other ways that every user must employ to strengthen the security of the account. Such methods include:
- Use of a password manager
- Changing passwords frequently
- Using different passwords for different accounts
- Doing social media privacy checkup
Q3. What is the difference between 2FA and MFA?
2FA is often confused with MFA, i.e., multi-factor authentication. MFA is a system that relies on two or more authentication factors to verify that the person trying to access is the right one for using the account. Since MFA also includes three or more verification factors, it is not the same as 2FA. 2FA is limited to two factors, and hence, it is considered a subset of MFA.
Final Words
Here we come to an end. Now that you are familiar with two-factor authentication, it’s time to incorporate it and enhance your digital security. Make use of it and keep your confidential information away from prying eyes online.
