Episode 2: How 2-Factor Authentication Can Save Your Account
In this episode, we are going to talk about 2 factor authentication. In the most simplest terms, two factor authentication means using two different methods of authentication to verify that an individual indeed is that person. The good - makes your account safer The bad - still hackable, but it’s harder The ugly - it’s annoying when you are in a hurry. Something you know - passwords Something you are - biometrics Something you have - badge, phone Something you know - This is a password. This is something in your mind that no one else knows. Security questions - only you technically know them. But this isn’t enough. Someone else might figure it out. By itself, it’s not safe. Facebook questionnaire. Asking you where you grew up, your favorite color, etc. Biometric - using some element of your body to identify yourself. Fingerprint, face recognition, retina scan, hair, voice. Something you are utilizes a biometric to identify an individual. Something you have - something physical that no one else should have. Badge is a good example. Your phone, along with a text or email another good example Individually, these are just authentication methods. But, when put together, you get 2 factor authentication. Simply put, you use 2 items from the list above, to authenticate a person. This makes it harder for hackers to get into an account, because they have to have 2 pieces. While this solution isn’t 100%, it’s still better than just relying on a password. An attacker has to go the extra mile to get one of the other items. Security by layers. Most attackers are lazy. Unless this is a targeted attack, 2 factor will deter most attacks.