Multi-Factor Authentication

Adding a Deadbolt to Your Online Doors

For accounts that hold a lot of our personal information, we want to make sure we’re the only ones with access. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) means that just entering a password on the computer isn’t enough for someone to gain access to your account. The term 2-Factor Authentication is commonly used as well, and is a subset of MFA that only requires one additional factor in addition to your password to grant access.

With MFA, when you enter a password into a digital account you will be prompted to verify your identity through another means. Most often you will be texted a code to the phone number on file. That code would then need to be entered into the account to gain access. Sometimes MFA will utilize an authorization app, use a physical object like a security token, or request a biometric identifier.

If you ever see one of these texts come to you when you’re not trying to access the account, then you know someone else is attempting to break-in. This is a good time to change your password.

Exercise

Review your personal accounts and enable MFA where possible.

Multi-factor authentication can also be used at the library. Can you think of any accounts that could benefit from adding multi-factor authentication?