Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an extra layer of security used to ensure that people trying to access an online account are who they say they are. The two factors required to authenticate your account are:
- Login credentials
- Unique Identifier (one-time code)
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How Does Two-Factor Authentication Work?
Step 1: You are prompted to sign in with their login credentials (usually, username and password).
Step 2: You are then prompted to initiate a second login step.
- The user provides a unique identifier to prove their identities, such as a security token or a temporary (one-time pin) six-digit code.
Step 3: You user enters the one-time pin (OTP) generated from the previous step.
Step 4: You are granted access to the application or website.
- Providing both factors will authenticate the user and grant access.