88 ANDROID ADVISOR • ISSUE 62FEATURE
What it is
Two-factor authentication is basically a combination
of two of the following factors:- Somethingyouknow
- Somethingyouhave
- Something you are
Something you know is your password, so 2FA
always starts there. Rather than let you into your
account once your password is entered, however,
two-factor authentication requires a second set of
credentials, like when the DMV wants your licence and
a utility bill. So that’s where factors 2 and 3 come into
play. Something you have is your phone or another
device, while something you are is your face, irises, or
fingerprint. If you can’t provide authentication beyond
the password alone, you won’t be allowed into the
service you’re trying to log into.
So there are several options for the second factor:
SMS,authenticatorapps,Bluetooth-,USB-,and
NFC-based security keys, and biometrics. So let’s
take a look at your options so you can decide which
is best for you.SMS
What it is: The most common ‘something you have’
second authentication method is SMS. A service will
send a text to your phone with a numerical code,
which then needs to be typed into the field provided.
If the codes match, your identification is verified and
access is granted.