Save the Embarrassment: The Value of Two-Factor Authentication

These days, it’s not a matter of if your password will be breached but when.

Major websites experience massive data breaches at an alarming rate. Have I Been Pwned currently has records from 295 sites comprising 5.3 billion accounts. This includes well-known names like LinkedIn, Adobe, and MySpace.

Password breaches are a cause for embarrassment; they are talked about in hushed tones just like finding mice in your home or having your credit card declined. They don’t need to be, though; they are part of the online experience associated with a modern cyber life.

Instead of being embarrassed, take steps to minimize the impact that a data breach has on your life.

One of the best ways to do this is to enable two-factor (or multi-factor) authentication on the accounts that you use on a regular basis. Adding a second form of authentication (typically in the fashion of a code generated by or sent to a device you own) can ensure that no one accesses your accounts even if they have your passwords.

Here you will find step-by-step instructions on how to configure two-factor authentication on some of Internet’s most popular websites.

Facebook

• Log into Facebook and visit Settings.

• On the left hand side, select Security and Login and click Edit next to Use two-factor authentication.

• Set up the 2FA methods of your choice. I recommend Text Message and Authentication App, at a minimum.

 Google

• Visit your Google Account page and follow the Signing in to Google link.

• Select 2-Step Verification and follow the steps to enable Authenticator, SMS, or Google Prompt 2FA. Note that some applications may stop authenticating and require application specific “App Passwords.” You can read more about those here.

PayPal

• Log into PayPal and visit Settings.

• Click Security and look for the Edit (Read more...)