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Although passwords are still valid, they are no longer the only or the most secure method to protect your accounts or devices. Millions of victims of hacks and personal data breaches have shown that they are not enough. How to avoid surprises and bad times? Known what is two-step verification and why you should start using it.
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The mechanism -also called two-factor authentication (2FA)- allows you to add an additional security layer that protects your account if your password is stolen, making it difficult for cybercriminals to work.
Companies like Google are making this mechanism mandatory for all their users, so it is likely that in the short term it will become a security element that is more familiar to all users.
What is two-step verification
Two-step verification provides a higher level of security than single-factor authentication methods, which typically consist of a password or PIN. The idea is to provide greater protection of personal information.
In this way, it forces users to provide two mechanisms, also called authentication factors, to verify their identity and access their account. They are generally classified as follows:
- Something you are: considers biometric methods such as fingerprints, facial recognition, retina scanning or voice identification. Most modern phones and computers already use it, although they are still not without flaws.
- Something you know: It is the most used factor, but also the most vulnerable. It can be the password for our email account or the PIN number for our bank account.
- Something you have: it is controlled through a device –or some analogical element- that is in the user’s power, such as a smartphone or a bank password generator.
For example, an attacker knows a user’s password (something you know), they won’t be allowed access to their online account or mobile device, unless they provide a second mechanism, such as a fingerprint scan (something you have). .
why you should use it
Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of necessary security against attacks and increases your security. If you are not convinced, these are the benefits it gives you:
- Millions of people unknowingly have their personal information (including their username and password) available for anyone to see.
- Many use the same password on multiple sites, so a hacker could try to use the same login information on all of them.
- When you don’t rely on a password, you improve security and reduce the risk of identity theft.
Can two-step verification be broken?
Yes, 2-Step Verification is not foolproof, although the probability of it happening is low. And much lower in relation to the single-factor method. The best known cases have occurred with SMS or automated calls that provide one-time keys. However, to gain access to this information, hackers must first trick phone companies into transferring someone else’s number to them.
How to activate two-step verification
Most services offer mechanisms to activate two-step verification, although it is a process that you must carry out individually in each of your accounts. Here are the links where you can find how to use them:
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