If you want to increase the security of your online accounts, you need to use a two-factor authentication system. As industry leader Transmit Security explains, this allows you to log on to your accounts using two different methods.
A two-factor authentication system works by requiring you to enter a password with a second form of identification, such as a code sent to your phone.
Two-factor authentication systems are a great way to increase account security because they can protect your accounts from hackers, as well as make it more difficult for someone to steal your personal information and use it for malicious purposes.
But which of the following are examples of things you can use to secure your online activities with two-factor authentication?
How Does Multi-Factor Authentication Work?
The main goal of MFA is to provide users with a multi-layer security system. The authentication process is implemented to ensure that only allowed users can access a system.
The good news is that even when the one factor has been compromised, more security measures are put in place to prevent any breach. For instance, if someone is trying to log into your laptop, the person would require more than the password to log in successfully.
With Multi-factor authentication, you have to enter the correct combination of several authentication factors. With the verification processes, you might need to enter a password (something you know) and a hard token (a number you have).
You’ll only be able to log into the device if you have the correct password and the correct hard token.
Why is MFA Important?
As mentioned earlier, MFA is an authentication process that needs users to verify their identity by completing multiple verification processes.
In short, users don’t just enter their passwords; additional credentials are needed for the system to verify them. MFA is important because it protects devices and accounts by reducing personal information theft.
Examples of Multi-Factor Authentication
MFA is the most popular way of securing devices and data online. There are several verification credentials users must enter, and they’re categorised into:
1. A code that the user knows – these are also known as knowledge factors, and they’re the most common. However, they’re also vulnerable to theft. Knowledge factors are not secure because the information is easy to steal. Examples of knowledge factors include:
- Passwords.
- PIN (personal identification numbers).
- Answers to a secret question (for example, what is your mother’s maiden name?)
2. A code that the user – is also known as possession factors and is more secure than the above options. Possession factors have been used for security for years. They act like a key that opens the lock, so it won’t be opened without the right key.
Over time, technology has advanced, and these factors have become more complex, providing more security. Some examples of possession factors include:
- Google Authenticator (an app on your mobile device)
- An SMS text message with a code
- Soft token (also known as software token)
- Hard token (also known as hardware token)
- Security badge
3. Biometric verification – this is the last MFA, and it’s the most secure because the device’s owner has to be present during the verification process.
The user uses unique biological traits to verify their identity. Some examples of biometric verification include:
- Fingerprint
- Retina
- Palmprint
- DNA
- Signature
- Voice
Is MFA Similar to the Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)?
In most cases, MFA is used simultaneously with the 2FA. Actually, 2FA is a subcategory of MFA, but the only difference is that the former restricts the verification factors to two while MFA can be more than two.
Cloud Computing and MFA
With the introduction of cloud computing, multi-factor authentication has become a necessity. More companies seem to migrate their systems to the cloud, and they can’t rely on a single user being on the same network for security purposes.
More security measures are needed to ensure that only authorised users access the systems. Since multiple users are allowed to access these systems in cloud computing, MFA comes in handy to ensure that the users have multiple authentication factors. These additional factors are always difficult, such that hackers and unauthorised persons can’t imitate or use force methods to crack the security firewall.
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