Arrr, me hearties! Learn the art o' outwittin' scurvy hackers, by keepin' 'em out o' yer digital treasure troves!
2023-09-17
Ye be wantin' to keep yer precious information safe and secure, matey! Fear not, for Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson be here to show ye the finest authenticator apps. They be like a sturdy fortress for yer digital treasures, arrr!
How secure are your online accounts? Do you use the same password for everything? Using the same password for everything is a bad idea because it makes it easier for hackers to access your accounts. If one of your accounts gets compromised, the hacker can use your password to try to break into your other accounts. That’s why you need to use different and strong passwords for each account and change them regularly. Passwords alone are not enough to protect your online identity. You also need to use an extra layer of security or multi-factor authentication apps. This is definitely a topic Kathy wants to know more about, as she’s emailing us asking, "Can you provide more information about multi-factor authenticator apps to use to enhance account security? Also why do banks favor SMS texts for two-factor authentication when they appear to be the riskiest to use? What’s better, authenticator apps or physical security keys? Is there a one-size fits-all solution to use across all accounts? Thank you!" -Kathy These are all great questions, and I want to go through each one step-by-step to make sure everyone has a full understanding of two-factor authentication apps and which are the best to use. The difference between multi-factor authentication (MFA) and two-factor authentication (2FA) is that multi-factor authentication can use more than two factors to verify your identity, while two-factor authentication always uses exactly two factors. Multi-factor authentication verifies your identity by using different methods, such as SMS texts, authenticator apps, or physical keys. As an example, to log in to your bank account, you need to enter your password and a code that is sent to your phone. This is multi-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication is a type of MFA that requires you to provide two authentication factors to verify your identity when logging in. An example is when you use Facebook. You can enable two-factor authentication in the settings so that every time you log in, you need to provide your password and a code. This way, even if someone knows your password, they can’t access your Facebook account without the second factor. Not every website and app supports all types of multi-factor authentication, so the one you use may have to depend on which account you're trying to log into and what type is supported. Overall, different types of multi-factor authentication have different advantages and disadvantages, depending on the level of security, convenience and compatibility you need. A physical security key is probably the most secure option because it is immune to many types of attacks, such as phishing and malware. However, it is not very convenient, as you have to carry it around with you, and not every website and app supports it. Plus, if you lose it, you may not be able to access your accounts unless you have a backup method or a recovery code. Therefore, you should always keep your security key in a safe place and have a plan in case you lose it. An SMS text message is probably the least secure option, as hackers can intercept and redirect those messages. However, it’s widely supported and easy to use, especially for people who do not have a smartphone or an authenticator app. An authenticator app is a good balance between security and convenience, as it is less likely to be hacked and can be downloaded to your phone. However, not every website and app supports it, and you may need to have internet access or cell service to use it. The most important thing is to use multi-factor authentication whenever possible, as it adds that extra layer of protection to your online identity. Here are some highly-rated authenticator apps you can use for multi-factor authentication, and they each can be downloaded on iPhone and Android phones. iPhone: 4.8 stars (at the time of publishing) Android: 4.7 stars (at the time of publishing) iPhone: 4.7 stars (at the time of publishing) Android: 4.2 stars (at the time of publishing)