You have probably experienced signing up for a website or app and being prompted to set up multi-factor authentication using your phone number or a third-party authentication app. Multi-factor authentication, or MFA, is a commonly used security verification system designed to verify a user’s identity before providing access to an application on a device, such as a bank or social media account. It is often prompted when you are using a new device for the first time, when you are in a foreign region, or when you haven’t accessed the application for a long time. In this article, we will explain how MFA works, the benefits of setting up MFA for your accounts, and best practices for protecting your private data in our advancing digital age.
What is MFA?
Multi-factor authentication, or 2-factor authentication, is a verification process that requires a user to provide two or more verification factors before gaining access to a digital resource. This added step improves cybersecurity as it requires the user to verify information on top of their username and password, which can be easily hacked by brute force or leaked by third-parties in today’s digital world.
How Does MFA Actually Work?
MFA succeeds when a user correctly inputs additional verification factors prompted by the system. The most common example that most users encounter is a one-time password, or OTP, received via SMS, email, app, or an automated call. These passwords are typically short and expire within a specified time frame to increase security. These messages are also often accompanied by a message prompting the user to contact support if they received an OTP without attempting to log in, signalling that their account may have potentially been compromised.
Types of MFA
Though the most common form of MFA is an OTP via SMS or email, they offer lower overall security as it is still fairly easy to gain access to an email address or phone number. Most applications are now offering authentication methods that require verification through biometric or possession protocols on top of relying on knowledge-based information. Common types of MFA protocols include:
- Knowledge-based security: Authentication is completed through entering the correct corresponding credentials, such as a username, a password, and answers to security questions.
- Biometric verification: The most common forms of biometric verification confirm a user’s identity through fingerprint scanning and facial recognition. In some cases, verification can also be conducted via voice patterns or retinal scans, though these methods are rare for day-to-day use applications.
- Possession protocol: Verification can also be achieved through confirming a user’s ownership of their physical devices, such as sending OTPs to known devices, as aforementioned. Other items that can be utilized include hardware tokens, device-bound passkeys, and authentication apps such as Google Authenticator.
Why Should You Set Up MFA?
As technology continues to evolve, MFA will also continue to adapt to new protocols to make access to platforms more reliable and secure for users. Although most applications on the current market require MFA when you create your account, there may be platforms built for leisure that do not enforce it, as it may be less exposed to security risks. However, MFA is an essential component of maintaining a secure online presence and protects your private information from unauthorized access. In severe cases, it will prevent malicious attacks such as phishing, identity theft, and impersonation scams. Not only will setting up MFA protect your digital assets, it is a simple and easy process that eliminates the need for the user to rely on knowledge-based protocols for security.
Multifactor authentication can now be enforced on an institution level in YuJa Verity, increasing security measures for both instructors and test-takers on the platform. You can read more about the feature here.
Best Security Practices
Aside from setting up MFA, we will close off this article with tips and strategies for keeping your private information safe online. To enhance your security and prevent unauthorized access to your accounts, you should always use strong passwords that are at least 12-15 characters long with a mixture of numbers, letters, and permitted symbols. You should also minimize the usage of repeated passwords across multiple platforms to prevent an attacker from gaining access to all of your information at once if one of your passwords was compromised. Although opting for familiar passwords that you can remember off the top of your head is easier, it introduces security risks at the expense of convenience. To remember complex passwords, you can use a verified and encrypted password manager such as Keeper Security, though the best practice is always to remember your own passwords and keep minimal traces of them anywhere online. By following these techniques, you can help ensure that your information is always safe and secure.
