Tips to prevent hacking - Two-factor authentication

Multiple factor authentication (MFA) makes it hard for hackers to gain access to your online stuff, and the most common user MFA form is a two-factor authentication (2FA). A very common 2FA form is a debit card. One factor is the card itself, which contains information about the magnetic identifier (today, chip), and the PIN you provide when you insert an object into the ATM machine. It's easy and good enough to keep others out of cash ATM accessible. 2FA is important for your online account, such as your email account and iCloud.

Although I admit it might be a little annoying to do something better to get into your account, it's much more painful than having someone's identity stolen, losing access to your emails or responding to your friends who are wondering why you have said things are crazy about them (unless, of course, you're really saying crazy things!). Or, hopefully, someone enters when you're in one of your game accounts.

Here's how 2FA verification works or two steps for some online account types. (Note, this service changes the situation over time, so it's a good idea to keep up with this change.)

Set up Google 2 Step verification

First you enter it with a username and password (we'll choose a smart password in Section 3) to your Gmail account. Need an avatar in the circle near the top left corner of the window. Maybe it's your photo too. Click on it and you'll see "My Account." (Incidentally, this change happens every couple of years) In the new window that opens, click "Enter & security." Click on "2-Step Verification," then on "Get Started." It's time to enter your username and password again. Enter the phone number and click either you want to receive text or phone call. Then you magically get a text call or phone with a 6 digit verification code. Type and select an option to enable 2-step verification. Very easy. Okay, this is a few steps, but it's not too difficult.

You can choose to collect your Gmail with several other applications, such as Outlook, rather than using a browser to open the Gmail page for your mail. If so, maybe when your two-step verification is turned on, your Outlook (or another application) keeps telling you that you have the wrong password, even if you know it's true. This has happened to me. You may need to ask Google to provide a specific application password that Google will generate for you. You must open the Application Password page, which at the time of writing is here.

Select the application you want (if Outlook, then you will choose "Mail"), then the device you are using (Google miraculously presents a list of devices that you use with their services). Then select "Generate." This will show you the 16 digit number in the yellow bar to be used as your new password for the application (Outlook, for example) on the device (not including space). You can save the password in your application and may need it later.

Yahoo!

Yahoo! similar: enter your account, open the account security page, click "two-step verification," and turn off the button there to turn it on. Select the option to get text or phone calls for verification. Enter the code that came to you via text or phone call. At this point, you can create an application password, such as the Google process above for various applications such as Outlook or Apple (iOS) Mail.

iCloud

Now, let's set 2FA to your iCloud account. First, you must have a passcode set on your iPhone or iPad.

Click on the Settings application. If your device uses iOS 10.3.3, click your name (or the name of the account you are using to sign in), then on "Passwords & Security." Did I mention that this will change when Apple makes us use our toes by changing everything when we feel comfortable with the previous version? In the previous version, you will click Settings, then on iCloud, then your name, then Password & Security. But I rocked ...

Now tap "Enable two-factor authentication." Ready to answer some security questions - which we will discuss in a future article - and then enter the telephone number where you want to receive the code for 2FA, and as before, choose whether you want a phone call or text.

Macintosh

For a Mac, open System Preferences, and select iCloud, and then "Account Details." You might have to login using your Apple credentials. As above, answer your security questions if it asks, enter the phone number where you want to receive calls or texts for verification. Once again, a magical robot instantly sends you the code and you have to enter that into the field that awaits your answer.

Once it's turned on, you'll get a message asking for approval if an unknown device or location signs onto your account. Note that on a Mac, that notification can sometimes be on a window that is hidden behind another, so look for that if you find you're having troubles with getting the approval request.

Speaking of troubles, it seems like a lot of work to have two-factor authentication, but once it's set up, it's not too much of a pain and will add considerable safety to your accounts, as well as considerable barriers to potential hackers. So do it!

Next time, we'll discuss passwords, passcodes, and why you shouldn't fill out those fun questionnaires that all of your friends send you.