The threat of cyber attacks in an increasingly digital world is driving the need for two-factor authentication (2FA), says Sonin.
Ethan Bennet from Sonin says the past few years have seen a “staggering surge” in data breaches and cyberattacks, from large-scale hacks of major corporations to the theft of personal information.
Sonin warned that cyber criminals use a number of different methods including automated bots, social engineering, where fraudulent emails requesting credentials are often created to look like they have come from a trusted source, and SIM hijacking. In addition, criminals also employ the tactics of inundating users with authentication requests as well as stealing credentials,
Bennet said: “By requiring users to verify their identity through multiple methods, such as a password and a one-time code sent to their mobile device or through biometric authentication, 2FA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorised access.”
Bennet said users should make a comprehensive list of all their online accounts, including email, social media and banking accounts and enable 2FA on each one. There are various 2FA options available, such as SMS, authenticator apps and biometric authentication so users should choose the methods that suit them best.
“Authenticator apps and biometric methods are the most secure so use these if you can,” he explained.
In addition, users should regularly review and update their 2FA settings to ensure that security measures remain effective, Bennet added.
