What Two-Factor Authentication Is, and How It Works (Part 1)
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It makes sense that fraudsters are drawn to our digital accounts since so much of our daily activities take place on laptops and mobile devices. Every day, we hear news of malicious attacks against companies, governments, and individuals. With this prevalent news, it does not appear that the hacks, data breaches, and other cybercrime will slow down.
In the past, a form of security was to have usernames and passwords for all our devices, social media handles, and data storage. But in recent years, passwords are just not enough. Given how simple it is for hackers to get usernames and passwords, it is no wonder breaches, and attacks occur regularly.
The frequency of websites losing consumers' personal data has dramatically increased. Hacks also result in the loss of social media users' handles.
According to a study, 80% of hacking incidents are caused by stolen and reused login information. Another study showed that poor passwords caused data breaches in 81% of companies.
As security breaches continue to rise, two-factor authentication has emerged as a crucial web security technique due to its ability to reduce the danger associated with compromised login credentials. Two-factor authentication keeps an attacker from getting access even if a password is stolen, guessed, or phished.
Continue reading to know what two-factor authentication is and how it works
What is Two-factor Verification (2FA)?
In reality, passwords are not foolproof because, regardless of how strong or weak your password is, it is simple for a security professional or cybercriminal to crack it. To protect an account in this situation, 2FA comes into play.
Two-factor authentication is a kind of multi-factor authentication that boosts security access by requiring two ways (authentication factors) to confirm your identity.
These factors include you entering your username and password. Then, instead of gaining immediate access, you will have to provide another piece of information. The 2FA could be a one-time SMS/email code, biometric, or fingerprint that you use to verify your identity.
This authentication safeguards your logins against attackers using stolen or weak credentials and guards against phishing and password hacks. Therefore, even if your password is compromised, it is extremely improbable that someone else will have access to your second-factor information.
Types of Two-factor Verification
There are three types of 2FA. They are known as the 3-somethings. Users must enter at least 2 of these 3-somethings to access the account.
Something you know: This could be an answer to a secret question such as a favorite book, best food, worst or best experience, or a unique pattern or pin.
Something you have: This could include your phone, wallet, credit card, or a small hardware
Something you are: This authentication type is a little more advanced and could include your fingerprint biometric, fingerprint pattern, an eye scan, or a voice scan
Before you can log in, any of this information must be provided.
Forms of Two-factor Verification?
A user's identity can be confirmed using various two-factor forms. These include:
SMS Two-factor Authentication
SMS-based 2FA interacts directly with the user's phone. After receiving their login and password, the site verifies the user's identity by sending a unique one-time passcode (OTP) to the user's phone number via text message.
If the authentication is voice-based, the user will get a call, and the passcode will be spoken to them.
The user is then given access after entering the code into the website or application.
Email Authentication
Email two-factor authentication is another popular way that people access their online accounts. Users receive an OTP or secret code via email to verify their identification. Sometimes, accounts can also be accessed without passcodes by clicking a unique link in the email.
TOTP/Authenticator App
The website or app a user is seeking to access creates a key locally using the Time-Based One-Time Password (TOTP) authentication technique. The security key is generally a QR code the user scans with their phone to generate a string of numbers.
The user then types those numbers into the website or application to gain access. A new passcode will be produced the next time a user enters the account because authenticators generate them with an expiration date.
Push-based Authentication
Push-based 2FA verifies a user's identity with as many authentication factors as other methods cannot.
A push notification is a passwordless authentication that alerts the user that an authentication attempt is being made by sending a message to a secure app on the user's smartphone. The user can then allow or refuse access after viewing the details of the authentication attempt.
How Does Two-factor Verification Work?
Your online accounts are given an additional layer of security thanks to two-factor authentication. Beyond only the username and password, access to the account requires a second login credential and obtaining that second credential necessitates access to something that is yours.
Accessing the account without this additional access method makes it impossible for hackers to access your account using only stolen login credentials and passwords.
Process of How 2FA Works
Different two-factor authentication options may be available depending on the application or vendor. Nevertheless, two-factor authentication follows the same process:
The user enters their username and password to access the website or app.
If the password is legitimate, an authentication server verifies it, and the user is then qualified to use the second factor. For processes where passwords are unnecessary, the website generates a unique security key for the user. The authentication tool processes the key, which is verified by the website's server.
The user's second-factor method receives a unique code from the authentication server. Any of the 3-somethings in this stage.
The user may then have to input a generated one-time code and provide further authentication.
Once accepted and verified, they are logged in.
Why Do We Need Two-factor Authentication (2FA)?
Imagine if someone could discover or guess your password and could access any of your social media accounts. Your sole line of defense against a hacker who wants to sell your information is a password.
These days, passwords are ineffective against the most popular password cracking methods employed by hackers. Even the most complicated passwords are not enough to stop these hackers.
We require two-factor authentication because it is a more effective method of restricting access and safeguarding your personal information than using a password alone. You will most likely be notified if someone else is trying to access your account.
Upgrade Your Security
Increase security by using two-factor authentication to safeguard your data. It is the quickest, easiest approach to defend oneself against online threats.
Increase your security with BrainStomp. Let us assist you in setting up safety measures when you want to log in. Give us a call at 260-918-3548 for a consultation session or send us a message.
