Why you should use two-factor authentication? Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that requires the user to provide two pieces of information before accessing their account. This can be something you know, like a password, and something you have, like your phone or tablet. By implementing this method of protection on your online accounts, you are ensuring the safety of all your sensitive personal data. If someone were to gain access to your regular password alone, they would still not be able to access any of the information in your accounts because they would need both passwords to proceed further.
Let’s explore why it is so important for everyone to take advantage of this great security feature.
1) Your Device Becomes an Added Layer of Security
On many occasions in recent years, major companies have been hacked, and the personal information of millions of their users has been stolen. They store all sorts of sensitive data such as credit card numbers, bank account details, and social security numbers. On top of this, many people use the same password for every one of their accounts which leaves them open to hackers if they should ever gain access to it.
If you implement two-factor authentication on your online accounts, even if someone does manage to get hold of your password they will not be able to access anything without first entering a code that is sent via text message or other means to your phone. This ensures that no matter what company you use where you have an online account, none of those places are because hackers would need both your password and your phone to get inside of them.
2) It Works Everywhere You Do
One major advantage of two-factor authentication is that you don’t need one password for all your online accounts and another password for the rest. All websites and apps where you use two-factor authentication will recognize your phone as a second key, so it’s not like using a PIN number at the ATM where different companies require different passwords. This makes life simpler because you only need to remember one set of login details instead of hundreds – only the password that you already know plus your mobile device or tablet (of course, if you lose or forget these then it would be like losing any other access method).
3) The Protection Is Free for Most Major Accounts
Another reason why two-factor authentication is so important, especially for people who are already concerned about the security of their sensitive information online, is that it just takes a minute or less to set up on most accounts. Even if you have thousands of emails and passwords stored away in your head, you don’t need to spend hours trying to enter each one individually. When setting up two-factor authentication for Gmail for example, all you will need to do is go into your settings through email login and enable the option which only takes a few seconds. There are similar options available for many other popular accounts such as Facebook, Yahoo! Mail, AOL Mail, Twitter, Instagram, and more.
4) Your Personal Data Is More Likely To Be Secure
It is easy for hackers to gain access to the personal details of millions of people these days thanks to major data breaches that happen all too frequently. To protect yourself from becoming a victim, two-factor authentication should be used on all your online accounts (unless stated otherwise). This way if one company falls and their security drops you won’t experience any problems with the rest as long as they use this method. Most websites today have already implemented some form of two-factor authentication so if yours hasn’t yet it’s probably best to switch over now before it does become a common practice.
5) It Isn’t Too Expensive For You or The Company
Two-factor authentication can be completed at no expense for you whatsoever which makes it cheaper than many other security measures that companies use. It is also a very easy process for the website, so it doesn’t cost them any extra time or money to implement either. This means that there are more benefits on both sides – you get more protection and they save money which makes two-factor authentication a win-win solution.
Conclusion
In order to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft, make sure to turn on two-factor authentication wherever possible. All major email accounts support this feature as well as most popular social media sites and apps which can be accessed through a mobile device or tablet no matter where you happen to be. By following these tips you will improve your online security immensely!
If you need more tips to keep your online presence safe, then contact us today!
