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Security Tools: Two-Factor Authentication

This guide describes usage of Two Factor Authentication

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Ken Hirsh
Contact:
Room 4035
Van Heche-Wettach Hall
(919) 962-6202

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What Is in This Guide?

YubiKey device

YubiKey autthentication device       photo attribution

Introduction

Two-factor authentication, often shortened to "2FA," is a subset of multi-factor authentication. You are likely familiar with single-factor authentication, most commonly when you use a password to access an online service. Passwords are often compromised, whether through a data breach or other means discussed in this guide. The goal of multi-factor authentication is to make it more complex to bypass authentication requirements by adding additional steps that require something beyond a password. The three types of factors are something you know - such as a password - something you have - such as your mobile phone or an authentication token - and something you are - a physical trait such as a fingerprint. While the additional factors may be subject to compromise, the increased complexity of bypassing all the factors provides a substantially lower risk of intrusion..

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