

Instead, let an authenticator app bolster your online security. Using your phone number as a factor for 2FA or OTP is dodgy territory, and there’s good reason for everyone to stop using their phone number for two-factor authentication. Not only is it virtually impossible for threat actors to swipe these one-time authorization codes, seeing as it refreshes around every 30 seconds, but these codes also aren’t sent via SMS.

With an authenticator app, users are given an automatically generated one-time password (OTP), which can act as a highly secure second factor for 2FA. This second factor can also be used before a transaction is made. This means if an unauthorized user gets their hands on a password, they will still need access to an email or phone number linked to the account where a special code is sent for an extra level of protection.įor example, a bank will require a username and password in order for a user to access their account, but it also needs a second form of authentication such as a unique code or fingerprint recognition to confirm a user’s identity. In order for 2FA to work, a user must have at least two important pieces of credentials in order to log in to an account (with multi-factor usually involving more than three different details). Two-factor authentication, more popularly known as 2FA, is the most commonly used method. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a digital authentication method used to confirm the identity of a user to allow them access to a website or app through at least two pieces of evidence. Why you can trust Laptop Mag Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.
