Multi-Factor Authentication

For many of us, it is not uncommon to have multiple online identities. An online identity, while some may think that I’m referring to MTV’s series Catfish, does not mean pretending to be someone other than yourself online. Rather, that every online system or platform that you have an account on, becomes one of your online identities.

The sheer amount of personal information that can be found across someone’s online identities can be astounding. Just think: social media, banking, shopping, home/business security systems, and the alike. Many of these online identities are protected strictly with a username and password. Hackers know this and have many tactics for which to steal your credentials and to gain unauthorized access to your online identities. For some, that could mean easy access to your online banking or social media account. For others, giving a hacker the ability to live stream into your home or business security system in real-time. The reality is that by using simply a username and password (even an extremely complex one), is not sufficient to safeguard your personal information.

To serve as an extra layer of security to your online identities, you should be enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA), also known as dual-factor authentication (2FA), if your account provider allows it. MFA can look different depending on the platform you are using, but the premise is the same: you will be pinged or otherwise notified (via mobile app, email, or call/text) when an attempt is made to log-in to one of your online identities. Once the ping is approved by you, then and only then would your online identity be fully authenticated and the access to your online identity granted. If the ping is denied or times-out, then the log-in attempt to your online identity will not be authenticated and your account and its data will be safe.

Remember that Whit(tech)er is here to help you with your IT needs. Contact us today if you need assistance setting up MFA!