You can get that code via SMS text message (which is not a great idea) or a specialized smartphone app called an 'authenticator.' Once linked to your accounts, the app displays a constantly rotating set of codes to use for logins whenever needed-it doesn't even require an internet connection. But in most cases, the extra authentication is simply a numeric string, a few digits sent to your phone as a code that can be used only once. Two-factor means the system is using two of these options.' Multi-factor means you might even use more than two.īiometric scanners for fingerprints, retinas, or faces are on the upswing thanks to innovations such as Apple's Face ID and Windows Hello.

Rubenking put it, 'There are three generally recognized factors for authentication: something you know (such as a password), something you have (such as a hardware token or cell phone), and something you are (such as your fingerprint).

You'll find all the terms used interchangeably with 'multi-step,' 'two-step,' and 'verification,' depending on the marketing.Īs PCMag's Lead Security Analyst Neil J.

We used to call it two-factor authentication (2FA), but more factors are better. That's why many internet services, a number of which have felt the pinch of being hacked or breached, offer multi-factor authentication ( MFA). What you really need is a second way to verify yourself. (You can stop changing your passwords constantly unless they're in a breach.) Even when strong, though, passwords are a pretty laughable method of authentication, because they can be scooped up pretty easily by a variety of methods. What's the average internet user to do? Well, you should have strong passwords. The 2014 Heartbleed bug exposed millions of internet logins to scammers thanks to one itty-bitty piece of code, and our security nightmares have only gotten progressively worse in the years since. How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.

Snapchat log in two devices