So you’ve locked down all your accounts with strong, unique passwords. Well, there’s more you can do to make it even harder for cybercriminals to access your accounts. You should utilize multi-factor authentication, sometimes called two-factor authentication or strong authentication, to better secure your accounts. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is the process of using more than one method to authenticate your identity. The methods should involve two independent sources.
How Does MFA Work?
There are three ways to prove your credentials that you are who you say you are: Something you know, have, or are.
MFA requires that you use two different categories (two independent sources) to prove your credentials. Such as entering your username and password (something you know) followed by entering a unique code sent to you via a phone app, text, or email (something you have).
Activate MFA Right Away
Having MFA activated makes it that much harder for cybercriminals to access your account even when they have your password. We hear about data breaches happening every day, and with those breaches, many passwords are compromised. You should activate MFA on all accounts that contain sensitive data, such as your primary email, financial accounts, and health records. Many organizations make MFA a mandatory requirement. If you have the option to activate it, you should take the initiative and activate it. This includes all of your social media accounts.
To learn more about activating MFA on your accounts, we recommend the following resource: Lock Down Your Login Site. If you have an account that you want to start MFA on and it is not listed on that resource, look at your account settings or user profile and check to see if MFA is available for that specific account.
As always, remember to reach out to your Fordham IT team if you are unsure about something or have a question or concern. IT Customer Care can be reached by calling (718) 817-3999 or email at HelpIT@fordham.edu.
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