Six Levels Of Two-Factor Authentication For Protecting Your Online Accounts - Fortis (2024)

FAQs

Six Levels Of Two-Factor Authentication For Protecting Your Online Accounts - Fortis? ›

The four types of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) are knowledge, possession, inherence and location. These authentication types provide a foundation for a number of MFA methods, giving users multiple options for securing their data, ranging from SMS message tokens to hardware security keys.

The four types of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) are knowledge, possession, inherence and location. These authentication types provide a foundation for a number of MFA methods, giving users multiple options for securing their data, ranging from SMS message tokens to hardware security keys.

Two-factor authentication means that a user has to submit two authentication factors that prove they are who they say they are. It is used when a user logs in to an application or system, adding an extra layer of security to simply logging in with their username and password, which can easily be hacked or stolen.

For authentication, the level of assurance depends on the type of credential(s), the number of authentication factors used (i.e., one vs. multiple), and the cryptographic strength of the transaction.

There are generally three recognized types of authentication factors: Type 1 – Something You Know – includes passwords, PINs, combinations, code words, or secret handshakes. Anything that you can remember and then type, say, do, perform, or otherwise recall when needed falls into this category.

Three Main Types of MFA Authentication Methods

Things you know (knowledge), such as a password or PIN. Things you have (possession), such as a badge or smartphone. Things you are (inherence), such as a biometric like fingerprints or voice recognition.

Here are some of the most effective 2FA methods: 1 SMS or Text Message Codes widely supported, easy to implement 2 Time-based One-Time Passwords (TOTP) widely supported by authenticator apps 3 Universal Second Factor (U2F) Security Keys: Physical key highly secure against phishing attacks 4 Biometric Authentication: ...

Hardware tokens are physical devices that generate one-time passwords (OTPs) or cryptographic keys. They are among the most secure MFA methods because they are not vulnerable to online attacks such as phishing or malware.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an identity and access management security method that requires two forms of identification to access resources and data. 2FA gives businesses the ability to monitor and help safeguard their most vulnerable information and networks.

What is the secret key for two-factor authentication? ›

The secret key is a unique 16 character alphanumeric code that is required during the set up of the PIN generating tools. The secret key is issued through email by logging on to the CommCell environment.

Two Factor Authentication gives the user and system administrator a peace of mind as it ensures that even if the users password is compromised the account cannot be accessed without also knowing not only the method used as the second factor but also having access to the second factor such as a dynamically generated one ...

Let's explore the most popular forms of 2FA that you can use to secure your accounts today: SMS, OTP, and FIDO U2F.

Two-factor authentication can work in multiple ways. One of the most common examples of 2FA requires a username/password verification and an SMS text verification. In this example, when the user creates an account for a service they must provide a unique username, a password, and their mobile phone number.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a multi-step account login process that requires users to enter more information than just a password. For example, along with the password, users might be asked to enter a code sent to their email, answer a secret question, or scan a fingerprint.

Factors are (i) something you know (e.g., password/personal identification number); (ii) something you have (e.g., cryptographic identification device, token); and (iii) something you are (e.g., biometric).

Three-factor authentication (3FA) is the use of identity-confirming credentials from three separate categories of authentication factors -- typically, the knowledge, possession and inherence categories.

As mentioned above, the four different types of multi-factor authentication that organizations can implement include, something you are, something you have, something you know, and somewhere you are.