Two-factor authentication is one of the best things you can do to make sure your accounts don’t get hacked.<\/p>\n
But hey, what is the exact definition of it? Is it same as two \u2018step\u2019 verification? Most of the people use two-step and two-factor interchangeably. There isn\u2019t much theoretical need to create a difference, but technically both are two different things.<\/p>\n
We all have been using authentications. Be it a bank login or accessing your personal email account, there is always a wall of authentication before it.<\/p>\n
To login, we just need a basic authentication \u2013 username and password. Just knowing your username\/password and you\u2019re authenticated. But that\u2019s just one factor authentication.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s make things very simple to understand. There are a few factors that determine the authentication methods. These factors are:<\/p>\n
As mentioned above, the user\/password verification method belongs to \u2018something you know\u2019 factor. If a hacker wants to break into your account, he just needs to know what you know i.e. username\/password. Only \u2018something you know\u2019 factor is being executed in authentication through passwords.<\/p>\n
To successfully hack a two-factor authentication system, the hacker must not only \u2018know\u2019 your password but also \u2018have\u2019 the physical device you own. Thus, two FACTORS of authentication are involved here.<\/p>\n
Well, two-step authentication might require just one factor but more than one step to clear the verification.<\/p>\n
In addition to passwords, you would need something more. Maybe a security question or a pin code.<\/p>\n
Take an example of any email login. When you sign in from an unknown device, it prompts answer a security question in addition to username\/password. You need to clear two steps here to get authentication.<\/p>\n
1. First Step<\/strong> \u2013 Username\/Password. Both steps are part of the same factor: something you know. You don\u2019t need two factors here like you need during withdrawal of cash \u2013 ATM card (Something you have) + Password (Something you know).<\/p>\n While many people use the terms \u2018two-step\u2019 and \u2018two-factor\u2019 authentication interchangeably, now you know that technically you can\u2019t.<\/p>\n If you are thinking to implement any authentication method to secure your applications or websites, feel free to be guided by our data security experts.<\/p>\n For any clarifications, chat now with our experts by clicking on the bottom right section of this page.<\/p>\n
\n2. Second Step<\/strong> \u2013 Security Question.<\/p>\n