After all, the internet is becoming increasingly integral to our lives each day - we not only keep in touch with others and consume our entertainment online but we also pay through the internet, using various digital wallets or even our bank accounts, through apps running on our smartphones. Thus, it is vital to keep our digital identity safe making two-factor authentication a vital service, no matter if it's your banking app or secure online Betway login.
What is two-factor authentication?
As its name suggests, two-factor authentication (often referred to simply as 2FA) goes beyond simply providing a username or email address and a password to a website or an online service. Instead of using just one step to authenticate, it uses two - first, you provide your username and password and next, it will ask you to confirm your identity through a different device or method. This makes logging on to an online service or a smartphone app much safer while also informing you of any attempt from third parties to access your accounts.The second factor
Depending on the service you use, 2FA can ask for your confirmation in many forms.
The simplest (and perhaps the least safe) is the method where you get an email asking you to confirm that it's indeed you who tries to access the website or service in question. I say it's the least secure because those who gain access to your username and password to a service may also intercept the email with the confirmation link and gain access to your account.
Another widely used form of 2FA is a confirmation text message (SMS) sent to you by the service provider - this usually consists of a code that you need to introduce into a field when you access a website or a service.
This is a great way to keep your accounts safe: first because it involves a text message (information sent through a different network, not the internet) and second because it will notify you of any attempts of third parties of accessing your account immediately. If you get a text with an access code from your cloud storage provider or digital wallet, you'll know that it's the perfect time to change your password...
In between the two, there is the use of an authenticator service like Google Authenticator or Authy. This type of service will ask you for a security code whenever you access a website or an online service, one that is randomly generated by a third-party.
These authenticator services work with the website or service provider you try to access, generating one-time passwords based on an algorithm. The secret code is randomly generated every 30 seconds. Using this method is much safer than using an email but it's not as safe as getting a code through SMS.
Where should I use 2FA?
Wherever you share personal information, payment details, private data such as pictures and videos, you should use 2FA to keep it safe. This applies to everything from social networks and cloud storage services to digital wallets and payment apps - you should use 2FA whenever you get the chance to keep your identity, money, and image safe on the internet.
Today, when personal information can and will be used against you, 2FA should be the first thing you activate when registering an account with a service online.
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