Two factor authentication (2FA), what is this exactly?

Two factor authentication (2FA) is increasingly used these days to ensure that only you have access to, say, your Facebook account, your Microsoft account, or any other account for which it must be absolutely guaranteed that the person logging in is actually allowed to log in. Think of it as extra tight security for your accounts. With two-factor authentication, you must follow two steps before you are allowed to log in. The first step is often filling in your username and password. The second step varies. Often you have to fill in a code that is generated by a special Authenticator app on your smartphone. That code is replaced with a new one every certain number of seconds. Since you are the one who can unlock your smartphone (and no one else, of course), you are also the only one who can see the code you need to enter with the Authenticator app. Even if someone else knows the password to your account, they will never be able to see the authentication code that comes with logging in, so they can't log in either. It doesn't get much safer!

Another method is even a little easier: after you enter your username and password, a message appears on your smartphone asking you to approve the login. If you are not the one trying to log in then you disapprove and if you are the one trying to log in then you approve. Microsoft is one of the brands that applies two factor authentication in this way.   Nobody can access your files on OneDrive and nobody has access to your account information.

The Authenticator apps of Microsoft and Google (Android and iOS) are used the most. Google's app has a very handy feature: should you buy another mobile, you can easily transfer all the accounts associated with the app to your new mobile.

Almost all major brands now have the ability to additionally secure your account with 2FA. In case you're wondering how to use 2FA, we've picked the most popular brands and services to explain how you can use 2FA with them.

This is how you set up 2FA with your Norton account: click here
This is how you set up 2FA with your Bitdefender account: click here

This is how you set up 2FA with your Adobe account: click here
This is how you set up 2FA with your Acronis account: click here
This is how you set up 2FA with your NordVPN account: click here

This is how you set up 2FA with your Facebook account: click here
This is how you set up 2FA with your Twitter account: click here
This is how you set up 2FA with your Instagram account: click here