What is two factor authentication (2FA)?
In recent years, we have seen a significant rise in cybercrime. There are tons of websites losing their users’ personal data. As cybercrimes are getting more sophisticated, businesses are finding their old security systems un-enough to mitigate modern security attacks.
Sometimes even a tiny human error can leave them exposed. With all this, it won’t be your user only who will suffer, but you can also suffer from reputational and financial loss. Even more, the after-effects of identity theft and targeted hacks are also going to be devastating.
To avoid all this, it has become essential for organizations, applications, and websites to tighter their security. Even more, whenever it’s possible consumers should also use security protocols for enhanced online protection.
However, for most of the organizations, apps, and websites, this extra security level is 2-factor authentication.
Everything you need to know about two-factor authentication.
Even though two-factor authentication has become a more common practice of enhancing users’ security. However, still some people don’t know much about what is two-factor authentication. Therefore, here we have a detailed article to let you understand what is two-factor authentication better and how does it work.
What is two-factor authentication?
In simple words, two-factor authentication is a security system that uses two different forms of login to identify a user while accessing something be it a student portal, website, application, or something else.
Two-factor authentication is commonly used to strengthen the online security of users. It usually requires two types of information from users, for example, a password along with a personal identification pin, a code sent to the smartphone of the user, or even a fingerprint, before accessing whatever is being secured.
Overall, two-factor authentication is used to improve security effectively.
How does two-factor authentication?
Enabling two-factor authentication usually varies based on a specific vendor or application. However, how this usually involves a general, multi-step process. These general steps include:
- Users will be prompted to log in by website or application.
- While logging in the user will enter credentials they already know, for example, password and email or username. Once the user has entered the password and username, the server will find and match them to recognize.
However, for the processes that don’t need passwords, for those, websites will create an exclusive security key for users. While the authentication tool will then process the key and the server of the site will validate that.
- Once the process is completed, the site or app will prompt the user to start the second login process as well. The second login process can take different forms. However, at this step, the user has to prove his identity by ensuring that he has something that no other has, for example, token id, biometrics, mobile device, ID card, etc.
- After that, the user needs to enter a one-time code generated in the previous step.
Once both the factors are provided by the user, the user will be authenticated. As a result, the user will get access to the website or application with ease.
Why 2-factor authentication is important?
Well, two-factor authentication is a security system designed to keep unauthorized users from accessing your account with just a stolen password. At present, users are at a higher risk of compromised passwords as compared to what they think and realized. This is a common risk more particularly if you are using the same password on different sites or applications.
It is because just downloading random software or clicking an unknown link in an email can expose a user to password theft with ease.
However, two factor authentication is a combination of your password with either a text or code you have on your phone, biometrics, or any other identity proof. This will keep you from identity theft in a more effective way.
Most importantly, you can even apply two factor authentication on your applications and even physical appliances as well to access your account without possessing any fear.
Final thoughts
Overall, two factor authentication is considered as an effective way to double up your online security. This will help you to prevent your applications from unauthorized access. Even more, it is the simplest yet most effective way to verify a user.
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