Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a method of enhancing user account security by requiring two means of identity verification.
Usually when you log in to your account, you will have to provide a password. 2FA requires another piece of information in the form of a code that you must enter before the site will grant you access to your user account. This code is usually sent via text message or generated with an app on your phone.
Instead of using an app, you can generate a 2FA code directly on your Windows 10 computer. There are a few apps out there that can accommodate this.
Before we start looking at these applications, let’s take a closer look at why 2FA is necessary.
Why use 2FA?
Many services won’t even let you sign up if you don’t create a strong password that contains at least 6 characters with a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters with symbols and numbers added to it.
For this reason, you might wonder why go through the hassle of setting up 2FA. Well, the reality is that hackers are pretty persistent these days in finding loopholes to steal user credentials. After they steal credentials data, dump data is often for sale in the dark corners of the web.
One of the most common targets of a hacker’s cyber attack is to access a user’s credit card information. With access to this information, hackers can then use it to continue shopping.
This year alone, a number of major breaches involving credit card information occurred. Hackers also perform other malicious activities such as accessing sensitive government information. The purpose of all of this is to illustrate the need to ensure that we protect our user accounts as there is often sensitive data stored in them that can be used against them. me if hacked.
2FA puts another line of defense, aside from your password, between you and the hacker. Even if a hacker gets access to the password of a 2FA-protected account, they won’t be able to log into your account without the 2FA code. For example, if you’re using Google’s Authenticator app on your phone, unless the hacker also has your phone, they won’t be able to access your account.
Google Authenticator is a popular choice for 2FA needs, but some of us don’t always carry our phones with us. If you use a Windows 10 machine, it is more practical to generate 2FA codes directly on the computer.
That said, let’s take a look at three Windows 10 apps that will let you generate 2FA codes.
1. Authentication
Authy is relatively simple to use. On initial setup, you’ll need to enter your phone number into the app. You will then be sent a verification code via text message.
Once the verification is complete, you can now start adding your services. Just select the plus sign to start adding services.
Now, you will need to access the settings of the user account for which you want to set up 2FA. There will be an option in the user account settings area of the service that will guide you through the process. Take Facebook as an example. If you go to Facebook’s settings and select Security and sign in, there’s an option called Use two-factor authentication that you can choose from. The app will guide you through the setup process.
You’ll need to enter the secret key provided by the service you’re setting up before you can start generating 2FA codes. Once the setup is complete, you’ll now be able to see the generated 2FA codes that refresh every few seconds in Authy.
The process is pretty much the same across all 2FA-enabled services. The next time you need to sign in to 2FA-secured accounts, you’ll be asked to enter your 2FA code. This is what it looks like with Facebook.
2 Factor Authenticator
To get started with 2-Factor Authenticator, select the add button and enter the name of the account you’re trying to add and the secret key. The Authy section above explains that secret key access for a service is relatively uniform across the board. It is available in the user account settings of the services in the sections related to security and passwords.
Using this app, you can enter a secret key or scan a QR code if your Windows 10 device can contain it.
WinAuth
WinAuth is a portable Windows 10 app that comes with options to quickly set up a few default services. These are Google, Microsoft, Battle.Net, Guild Wars 2, Glyph/Trion, and Steam. It also allows setting up a 2FA code by entering a previous WinAuth configuration.
If you are not using any of the above services/options, after selecting the Add option, select the Authenticator menu option to add more services. You can now enter the secret key provided by the service you’re setting up with 2FA.
After completing the setup process, you will be asked to set up extra protection for your 2FA code in WinAuth and we recommend that you set a password. Alternatively, you can encrypt the 2FA information so that it is only usable on your computer. There is also the option to lock WinAuth 2FA credentials with a YubiKey, a physical device that supports the 2FA process.
Final thoughts
If you’re serious about your privacy and data security, use a 2FA code for your account. WinAuth, 2 Factor Authenticator, and Authy are all great options for generating 2FA codes on Windows 10. Note that WinAuth is a mobile app, 2 Factor Authenticator is a Microsoft Store app, and Authy is a desktop app for table. That means the download and installation process of each of these 3 apps is different.
Hackers have stolen the account data of nearly 50 million Facebook users by using a vulnerability in a seemingly innocent app to wish them a happy birthday. So you can imagine how important it is to choose 2FA wherever supported to protect your logins and data.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
