It’s no secret that it’s difficult to be too careful when online. Security has become a top priority for everyone, and with hackers becoming more sophisticated than ever, there are plenty of precautions that people should be taking. One of the most important is using two-factor authentication, which helps prevent unauthorized access to your account by requiring you to enter an additional piece of information at the same time as your username and password.
Tools for 2FA
How can you keep your account safe? Two-factor authentication (2FA) is the answer!
SMS token: one-time passwords are sent via SMS, similar to the mTAN system used by online banks. Hackers need access to both the password entered on the PC, and the SMS sent to the mobile phone to attack successfully. Not impossible, but much more challenging than a simple password.
Application: there are one-time password (OTP) creation applications for all major operating systems. To use them, you need to link them to your account (usually a QR code). The attack also requires obtaining a mobile phone, which is not easy.
U2F key: A unique read-only USB key provides the one-time use code, similar to chip bank cards. The more serious solutions also have an NFC chip, so they can be used with NFC-enabled smartphones, in which case you hold the key to the back of the phone when the code is requested.
Did you know?
Did you know that more than 90% of data breaches were due to weak, default, or stolen passwords? Two-factor authentication is a way to increase your chances of not becoming a victim. With two-factor authentication, you are required to enter an additional piece of information to access your account. This can be done with things like security questions, fingerprint scans, or SMS verification.