Tech Terms – 2FA
2FA is an abbreviation for “two-factor authentication,” a security measure used to authenticate a person’s identity. It requires two forms of authentication, such as a password and a phone number, which a user needs to provide to be granted access to information.
In general, there are three factors that can be used for authenticating identity:
- An object a person possesses, such as a smartphone or computer.
- Secret information a person knows, like a password.
- A unique physical trait of a person, like a fingerprint.
2FA requires two of these factors, which makes it more difficult for unauthorized users to gain access to sensitive information. For example, instead of only having to crack a user’s password, a hacker may need to access the phone to which a temporary code is sent.
2FA is typically implemented in systems that require extra security precautions because of the importance of the sensitive information. Some examples of these systems include cloud storage services, financial institutions, and medical providers.