What Is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)?
Two-factor authentication (2FA) strengthens access security with an extra authentication method added to a username and password. A common example of 2FA is a smartphone app that requires users to approve their authentication request before logging in.
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Two-factor authentication in cybersecurity
The digital landscape is evolving, and so are cyberthreats. 2FA plays a critical role in securing digital environments, but it is only part of the solution.
Organizations must adapt by adopting more sophisticated 2FA and multi-factor authentication (MFA) technologies. Implementing centralized user identity and access management (IAM) solutions can enhance security teams' ability to detect and respond to threats effectively.
However, these solutions should be paired with improving user education and awareness. By proactively addressing the challenges and vulnerabilities of 2FA, organizations can stay one step ahead of cybercriminals in the ongoing battle for digital security.
Is 2FA secure?
While 2FA significantly enhances security, it's not foolproof. Vulnerabilities within solutions and misconfigurations can be exploited by attackers. Cybersecurity professionals must continuously evolve their security strategy as cybercriminals find new ways of compromising systems—including 2FA.
Understanding the attack vectors that threaten 2FA is vital. Cybercriminals employ tactics like phishing and push bombing to trick users and evade this protective layer. For example:
- Phishing attacks can trick users into disclosing their 2FA information to attackers, who can then impersonate legitimate users.
- Push bombing overwhelms users with authentication requests, causing them to accidentally approve malicious ones due to MFA fatigue.
Read our free e-book, "Phishing for Dummies," to better understand phishing attacks with a real-world example of push bombing.
What are the benefits of 2FA?
Reduced risk of fraud: 2FA can help to reduce the risk of fraud, such as unauthorized account access and financial transactions.
Minimized attack surface: 2FA mitigates the risk of attacks from compromised passwords and unauthorized access to better protect all users, and reduce the organization's attack surface.
Improved compliance: Many industries and regulations now require organizations to implement 2FA to protect sensitive data. For instance, 2FA is mandatory for cybersecurity insurance and for financial institutions to meet Federal Trade Commission (FTC) compliance.
Overall, 2FA is a simple and effective way to add an extra layer of security to your online accounts and systems. It is highly recommended that you enable 2FA on all your important accounts, such as your email, bank, and social media accounts.
Why use 2FA authentication?
As the number of security breaches continues to rise, 2FA has become an essential web security tool because it mitigates the risk associated with compromised login credentials. If a password is hacked, guessed, or even phished, 2FA prevents an attacker from gaining permission without approval by a second factor.
Passwords are vulnerable
2FA is a crucial security step because passwords alone are not enough to ensure the security of online accounts and systems. Passwords are like house keys; they grant admission but provide no assurance of who's holding them.
A mere password cannot guarantee secure connection to digital resources, underscoring the importance of access security tools like 2FA, MFA, and passwordless authentication.
What is passwordless authentication?
When you hear the term passwordless authentication, it refers to identity verification methods not dependent on passwords. This approach incorporates biometrics, security keys, and specialized mobile apps for secure entry, like Duo Mobile.
Passwordless authentication offers ease of use, strengthens security, and minimizes administrative overhead, fostering a frictionless login experience for users across various enterprise scenarios.
What is push-based authentication?
Push-based 2FA typically works through a mobile authenticator app. The app sends a notification on a user's device, requiring their approval to authenticate access to accounts, applications, and resources.
Push-based and passwordless authentication mitigate password-related risks, such as password interception or duplication, common vulnerabilities in Short Message Service (SMS)-based 2FA. To stay ahead of attackers, organizations are transitioning to push-based 2FA and passwordless authentication.
Push-based authentication with number matching asks users to enter a matching number when approving authentication requests, providing additional security against push harassment and fatigue attacks.
Adaptive authentication dynamically considers risk signals at the time of authentication and may step up the authentication method. For example, it may require push with number matching or passwordless authentication to mitigate risk.
Moving away from SMS-based 2FA is recommended in favor of adaptive authentication and passwordless authentication, which are more secure options. They not only protect your accounts but also simplify the user experience to frustrate attackers, not trusted users.
How does 2FA work?
Processes vary among the different 2FA methods, but a 2FA transaction generally happens like this:
- The user logs in to the website or service with their username and password.
- The password is validated by an authentication server and, if correct, the user becomes eligible for the second factor.
- The authentication server sends a unique code to the user's second-factor method (such as a smartphone app).
- The user confirms their identity by providing the additional authentication for their second-factor method.
How do I enable 2FA?
To enable 2FA for services and applications, you need to follow a process specific to each platform. For example, follow these seven steps to enable Duo 2FA:
- Start the setup prompt "Choose your authentication device type," such as mobile phone, tablet, security key, etc.
- Enter your phone number "Choose your platform," such as iPhone, Android, Windows.
- Install Duo Mobile app.
- Activate Duo Mobile.
- Configure your device options.
Visit the enrollment guide for a step-by-step tutorial on how to enroll Duo 2FA.
What are the different types of 2FA?
Authenticator apps
Authenticator apps such as Duo Mobile support 2FA by acting as the second layer of security whenever a user tries to log in. To log in, the user must complete a separate verification step, such as a phone call, an SMS, a one-time passcode, a push notification, biometrics, or something else.
Hardware tokens
Using a hardware token, you can press a button to verify who you are. This device is programmed to generate a passcode that you must type into your two-factor prompt.
SMS passcodes
A unique passcode is sent to your phone by SMS that you must type into your two-factor prompt.
Mobile passcodes
Similar to SMS, a two-factor authentication app can generate new, unique passcodes for you to type into the two-factor prompt. These are known as a time-based, one-time passcode (TOTP).
Biometrics
WebAuthn and Passkeys allow you to use the TouchID fingerprint reader on MacOS laptops as a second factor to authenticate access to your accounts.
Which type of 2FA is the most secure?
The most secure 2FA method is to use either hardware tokens or a mobile authenticator app. Biometrics also offer heightened security due to unique biological signatures.
This method requires physical possession to authenticate, minimizing the risk of remote hacking attempts. Unlike SMS passcodes or mobile passcodes, they aren't susceptible to interception or replication, providing a robust layer of protection.