2FA: To Feel Alright

You might have heard of Two-Factor Authentication before.  Or 2FA, or TFA, or sometimes Two-Step Verification.  But even if you have heard of it, you might not be 100% sure what the heck it really is.

Two-Factor Authentication simply refers to a login page that requires your password to log in, PLUS something else.  That "something else" could be a 6-digit code texted to your cell.  A PIN.  A fingerprint.  Only with both pieces of authentication is access granted.  The technology typically relies on one "knowledge factor" and one "possession factor", or more simply, something you know and something you have.  A helpful analogy could be your Debit card, which requires that you 1) have the card, and 2) know the PIN.

It doesn't really even bear mentioning that the internet is a dangerous place, bursting with black-hat baddies phishing for YOUR personal data.  2FA currently offers the best widely available protection against intrusions into your most sensitive online data.  Passwords are easy to steal/guess/crack, but what are the odds of a hacker getting your password AND your phone?

Consider spending 5 minutes and enabling 2FA on your Google accounts (link below).  Try it out for a couple weeks.  Once you get used to it it's hardly a hassle, and your chances of getting hacked drop to near zero.  Another good idea would be to turn it on for your online banking /credit union account (most banks offer this now, but not all).

Google 2-Step Verification Setup