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The notifications include location information for the log-in attempt.

Instead of installing an app, you can also set up a push-based system such as Google Prompt, which sends notifications to all the phones signed into your Google account when a new log-in is detected.
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And you have to sign up for Google 2-Step Verification before you can use it.
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Google Authenticator is available for Android and iOS phones, but you need to have a Google account to set it up.
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If you lose your phone, you just scan the code into a new one. You also have the option to print out an image of the QR code for safekeeping. Once you do that, the app will continually generate the numerical codes required for log-in. If you choose to use a mobile app, such as Google Authenticator, you must scan a QR code presented by the site you wish to visit into the app.


With this method, your smartphone acts as a security key. And, in the rare instance that it does, the cybercriminal still has to crack your password. That last practice, known as "porting," allows the criminal to intercept the code by taking your existing cell-phone number and transferring it to a fake account.īut the odds of either of those things happening to the average person are very slim. Some experts say this method is less secure than the others, too, because cybercriminals can retrieve passcodes through phishing scams, which trick users into entering the code into fake websites, and by cloning your phone number. To receive those texts, you also have to hand over your phone number, which could open you up to marketing-related texts from the company that issues them. If you’re traveling overseas and haven’t set up your phone for international service, you'll have the same problem. The bad: Smartphone batteries always seem to die at the worst time and, when that happens, you can't receive texts. In some cases, you can even have the code sent to you in the form of a robocall, which comes in handy if you'd like to have the numbers read aloud to you. As long as you can receive texts, you're good to go. The good: You don't need a fancy smartphone to use this method. Any time you log into a digital account via a new laptop or smartphone, you're required to enter your password and then a multi-number code that gets texted to your phone. This is the method familiar to most people. If you want to see whether your online banking, social media, and other accounts use one, here's a handy resource. Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of the latest two-factor authentication methods. And 2FA is not always turned on by default, which means you can't count on it unless you activate it on your own. And so, most online services that handle sensitive information-Social Security, banking, and credit card numbers birthdates and personal emails-now offer 2FA, as do connected devices such as security cameras.īut there are notable exceptions, such as Fitbit and Netflix. That's because passwords can be stolen through a data breach or even a simple phishing attack, no matter how strong you make them. "This provides users with an extra layer of security, requiring them to verify their identity with factors such as biometrics, protecting them from the risk of weak or compromised credentials."

“Even if you have a good password strategy, like employing a password manager, I always recommend using multifactor authentication,” says Gerald Beuchelt, chief information security officer for LogMeIn, parent company of the popular password manager LastPass.
