IT support and security
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Requiring a second proof of identity beyond a password, usually a code from an app, before an account will let someone in.
What multi-factor authentication (MFA) means in practice
MFA is the control that turns a stolen password from a breach into a nuisance. It is free on every mainstream email and business platform, it takes a few minutes per user to switch on, and it prevents the overwhelming majority of account takeovers that begin with a phishing email.
The common failure is switching it on for most people and not for the accounts that matter. The director who finds it inconvenient, the shared accounts@ mailbox and the old administrator login nobody uses are exactly the accounts an attacker wants, and they are the ones usually left exempt. Text message codes are weaker than an authenticator app, though both are enormously better than a password on its own.
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