How-To

Two Factor Authentication (2FA) Guide: How to Secure Your Online Life

two-factor authentication

Two Factor Authentication is a vital layer of security you need to enable on all of your online accounts that offer it and we have a list that shows how.

Two Factor Authentication is currently a great way to add an extra layer of security to your online accounts for services like Google, Facebook, Twitter, LastPass, Dropbox, and many others.

We are always preaching the benefits and necessity for you to enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for the past couple of years since it was introduced as a better security option. While using passkeys provides a more secure and psswordless sign in experience, it’s an emerging technology, and 2FA assures your accounts are protected right now.

Here, in this guide, we have links to show you step-by-step on how to enable 2FA on some of the most popular online services.

What is Two-Factor Authentication?

Two-Factor Authentication adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts and makes them much harder to hack. It requires more than just a simple username and password. You and the service have two different means of verifying your identity. In fact, you’ve been using 2FA each time you go to the ATM. You must have your card and the correct PIN number for your account to get the cash.

Usually, it involves sending a unique code sent to your smartphone that you enter along with your password. Or you can generate an individual code, using your phone using apps like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft’s Authenticator app.

It’s also done using something you have like a special USB key with a unique token or using biometric data from an iris scan or fingerprint. But the average user will use the methods we list below.

2FA is called different names by services out there. It can be called Multi-factor Authentication, 2-Step Verification, or something similar. No matter what a company calls it, the fact remains, it adds an extra layer of security to your account that makes it much harder for the bad guys to break into your online accounts.

Guide for Enabling Two-Factor Authentication

Click any of the links below to learn how to set up 2FA on your online accounts.

The table and updated list above are just the beginning. We’ll continue to bring you articles on how to enable 2FA on other sites as it becomes available. And remember, if a service you use doesn’t offer 2FA or even if you are using it — that doesn’t negate the importance of creating strong and secure passwords.

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Steve Krause

    June 21, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    Does Amazon have two factor auth yet? That’s one I’m always worried about… I can’t seem to find it tho.

    • Brian Burgess

      June 22, 2015 at 7:24 pm

      Nope. Not yet. It definitely should be an option though.

      On a separate note, every Amazon device you order, a Fire tablet for example:

      Your tablet is tied to your Amazon account (with credit card) so you can easily purchase content from the service. So out of the box you want to make sure that it and your other sensitive data is protected, definitely enable a Lock Screen Password.

      https://www.groovypost.com/howto/enable-kindle-fire-hd-lock-screen/

    • Morley crabbe

      May 4, 2021 at 2:28 pm

      That’s because I’ve turn it off and I do not use it no more you will not find it and I will never use Amazon again because I got hacked so I hope you can fix it because until then I will not use Amazon ever I won’t use it on my phone ever again I’m not putting no details in my phone seems it’s been hacked by 510 people can you help me please

  2. An T

    January 28, 2018 at 8:40 am

    how about Paypal?

    • Steve Krause

      January 28, 2018 at 8:51 am

      Hi Ant – Yes, Paypal also has two factor via SMS TXT. I have it enabled on my account so I’ll take a look at the steps and do a new write-up here on gP.

      Thanks for the suggestion!

      -Steve
      groovyPost

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

To Top