Multi-Factor Authentication – Annoying codes, great security
Hello,
Have you ever been annoyed by those multi-factor authentication (MFA) codes that are sent to you via SMS or email when you try to log in to your online accounts? While it's true that these codes can be a bit of a hassle, they serve an incredibly important purpose - protecting your accounts from being stolen.
In today's digital age, over 5 billion people are connected to the internet, and any of them are potential cybercriminals who may try to guess your username and password to gain access to your accounts.
While it's important to use strong, unique passwords for all of your online accounts, it's not always enough to protect you from account takeovers. That's where MFA comes in. This security feature requires you to provide an additional form of verification, such as a code that is sent to your phone, or email or available in an app, which is needed to log in to your account. And it's extremely effective - MFA has been shown to block 99.99% of account takeover attempts.
Unfortunately, even if a website has top-notch security, another website you've signed up for in the past could be compromised, putting your password at risk. In fact, in 2022 alone, over 2 billion passwords were stolen and leaked on the internet, making it even easier for attackers to try and access your accounts.
That's why it's so important to use MFA whenever it's available. While it may be inconvenient to have to enter an additional code every time you log in, it's worth it to protect yourself from potential ransom demands. Takeover attacks, in which a hacker takes over one of your accounts and demands payment in order to return it to you, are becoming more and more common. The average ransom demand for personal accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, is around $250, but the cost can be much higher for business accounts.
So, next time you're prompted to use MFA, don't let it be a nuisance - use it to keep your accounts secure! It may take an extra few seconds of your time, but it could save you a lot of headaches in the long run.
