Two Factor Authentification or 2FA adds a second method of identity verification to secure your accounts. It provides a second layer of security when logging into your account to ensure you are who you say you are.
Since we are putting more and more of our personal data online (especially financial data), usernames and passwords lack the security we need to protect that data. It’s not difficult for phishing schemes and hackers to steal our passwords and gain access to our accounts. This is where 2FA comes into play.
2FA requires the use of something you personal have in your possession. This is usually your mobile phone but an email account can work as well. When you login into your account with your username or password, you will be required to enter an additional code. Depending on the settings you have, this code can be sent to you in several ways:
Each of these methods cannot be faked by a hacker since it requires possession of your mobile phone. So a hacker may have your username and password, but they can never access your account since they can’t pass the two factor authentication.