4. Two Factor Authentication
Make sure people can't access your accounts by using strong passwords, then make doubly sure with two-factor authentication.
Online passwords are a fact of life these days, you need them for bank accounts, emails, social media, phones, everything that you do requires an online password.
Two-factor authentication is a way of making sure that those passwords are even more secure. With two-factor authentication typically a website will have you input your username and your password, then it will send a message to your phone or email asking you to verify that it's you.
This is a great backup, if someone else tries to access your account even if they know your username and password you're going to get a request for a second layer of authentication.
Why use two-factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication is an immediate way to find out that there is a breach in your personal security. If someone has managed to trigger two-factor authentication then they have access to both your username and your password, and likely intend to use whatever account they have tried to access. Two-factor authentication allows you to immediately refuse access to your account even if someone else has acquired your login information.
Isn’t my password enough?
Originally a password worked fine on its own but advances in technology and computer power mean that passwords can now be accessed by trial and error faster than ever before.
The solution to this at the moment is more complex passwords and two-factor authentication.
The most important part of two-factor authentication is that someone knowing login information won't give them access unless they can also get physical access to your phone. We think that's a really important two-step process and is why two-factor authentication is such good security.
Unsecured data makes you an easy target, that's why we recommend two-factor authentication, it makes the house next door look much easier to rob.
Is there any other security I could also be using?
We recommend the Google Authenticator App which can be downloaded on phones from any of the App stores, most websites will then allow you to use the Google Authenticator as the second factor to ensure access.
If you have any questions or trouble with the process we're happy to step you through it as it's something that we all do in our office ourselves. Two-factor authentication does provide you with very strong security and certainly means that we have to worry less about online theft of clients' money and investments.
We are committed to the security of both client information and client wealth. We hope this information on using two-factor authentication as extra security for your assets is beneficial.
