The past few years have been marked by a series of attacks on companies that have led to the exposure of information from multiple users. Dating services, email platforms and social networks have been hacked and the integrity of the technologies used for password storage has been compromised. If you do not know two-factor authentication is in the right place, it may be the solution to enhance your security.
In addition, well-known e-commerce and financial institution pages, for example, have been hacked, increasing pressure for users to use more comprehensive security strategies. With the two factor authentication/ the options come perfect now.
Among the best, two-factor authentication is one of the most popular. In this post, see why and how to set it up. Come on.
What is two factor authentication
Two-factor authentication is a digital security feature to prevent access to accounts that have been compromised. It kicks in during the process of logging in to a system, adding an extra layer of user identity verification: in addition to the password, you must enter a temporary code that is sent to a trusted or time-generated medium.
While not a foolproof method, two-factor authentication has become one of the primary ways to protect accounts from unauthorized access. Once a layer of security is added to the identity validation process, gaining access to the user's password is no longer the main step in hacking an account. Now you also need to get code generated in a user-only knowledge location.
How can the company adopt two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication can be done in different ways. Each system has a series of mechanisms that are available to the user, with different levels of reliability. See the main ones below!
SMS or Email
These are the most traditional and practical means, but also the most insecure. Sending an SMS or an e-mail message with the access code has the main advantage of convenience, since a network connection is enough to have access to the code.
However, this is the most vulnerable method of all. Text message data capture is easily done, especially if the user's device is compromised. The same goes for the email account used to receive the message with the passcode which, once compromised, can expose all user accounts.
Authenticator Application
The authenticator application is a more reliable method for accessing authentication codes and is not dependent on a network connection.
This mechanism is currently available in both official apps such as Google and Microsoft, or third party apps like Authy that can be used to sign up for multiple accounts. Thus, the user has a centralized mechanism to access all their verification codes.
USB token
USB tokens are one of the most secure methods for using two-step authentication. In general, it is a pen drive- like device that connects to a computer while accessing a service.
Its content is encrypted, preventing unauthorized access to information. However, this is one of the least popular methods for using two-step authentication, as its use on public devices may be limited.
Magnetic card
Magnetic cards act as USB tokens. But because they need their own reader, their use is even more restricted. It is generally adopted for applications with limited access to a small team that do not need to travel to multiple environments.