Using two-factor authentication is like using two locks on your door - and is much more secure. Using only one factor - say, something you know, like a password - to log in to your account is like having one lock on your front door. Something you are, like your fingerprint, your face, or your retina.Īccounts with two-factor authentication require you to enter a credential from two of the three categories to log in.Something you have, like a one-time verification passcode you get by text, email, or from an authenticator app or a security key.Something you know, like a password, a PIN, or the answer to a security question.Authentication factors fall into three categories: The credential you give to log in - your password, in this example - is a type of authentication factor. This process verifies who you are and is known as authentication. To prevent unauthorized access to your accounts, sites usually require you to sign in with a username and password. But the best way to protect your accounts is to use two-factor authentication, sometimes called two-step verification or multi-factor authentication. Taking steps to keep your password secure is an important first line of defense against hackers. If the site doesn’t have safeguards to detect this type of attack, the hacker’s software may be able to try many different passwords. If hackers only have your username, they can use software to guess your password.This works only if you use the same username and password in more than one place - and is a reason to never reuse the same username and password. Hackers might also try to use the username and password to log in to another one of your accounts. (That’s why it’s important to change your password right away if you find out that your information may have been exposed in a breach.)
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