Data Breaches have been increasing at an alarming rate. How can you protect yourself? What is Multi-Factor Authentication? This post details the importance of MFA for your logins.
What is Multi-Factor Authentication?
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a multi-step login process. It requires users to authorize their login with more information than a password. For instance, users receive a prompt to enter a code from an app on their phone before accessing an account.
You need at least two ways to verify your identity before logging in. Usually, Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a type of MFA that is common.
There needs to be more than the typical login combo with username and password. What if hackers steal a password? With 2FA in place, users get alerts for all login attempts. But attackers are blocked from access.
Even if the hackers have your password, they still need a physical item from you, like a smartphone.
A typical MFA system consists of the following:
Login: A person enters a username and password into an account.
Registration: A user links an item, such as a smartphone or a key fob, to the system.
Authentication: The user is asked for their ID and password, and the system connects with the registered item. For example, it may send a 6-digit code by an app or SMS text to the user’s phone.
Reaction: A user completes the authentication by verifying the other items. For instance, they might enter their 6-digit code or press a button on the device.
Why Use MFA?
MFA allows stronger authentication. The issues of relying on passwords include: weak, reused, and stolen passwords. But enforcing MFA is an extra layer of security to protect your accounts.
With 2FA, you gain access to your logins through several verified factors. This reduces the risks of exposed passwords and adds another layer of protection against many attacks.
Though, many users create weak passwords that can be easily cracked with brute force attacks. Hackers use known word lists to guess many passwords. According to Infosecurity, data breaches rose by 70% globally in 2022.
So, today we’re relying heavily on cloud accounts in our daily lives. It’s even more important than ever to secure our logins against threats.
In conclusion, MFA defines a helpful way to protect our accounts daily. Compromised passwords are one of the most common ways bad actors can get your data. Yet, using MFA is one of the easiest ways to make it much harder for them.
