A lot of people think by just having a strong password their accounts are safe from being hacked. Well to those who think this, that is far from the truth.
The truth is that just by using standard usernames and passwords, your account is still subject to being hacked. This has been an issue since computers became a thing. Since the creation of Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), it has become much harder for malicious actors to gain access to your accounts including banking, crypto wallet, and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Currently, you can set up and use 2FA over text message, predetermined codes, and authentication apps. There are many more methods of 2FA, but the ones listed above are the ones most people use. It is highly preferred that you turn 2FA on even though it is annoying to continuously verify your identity every time you try to log in to your email or social media.
Each 2FA method has its pros and cons. For example, 2FA over text message is easy and convenient but is vulnerable to sim jacking. 2FA over a predetermined code, where you are given a verification code, has more cons than pros. For example, if you lose the code, you’re going to be stuck on figuring out your next steps. I learned the inconvenience of losing your verification code the hard way with Microsoft BitLocker. The other method of 2FA is to use an authentication app like Google Auth. This is one of the current best methods due to its extremely high security, and its simplicity to use. Overall, using 2FA might be annoying but it will save you from a future headache down the line from potentially being hacked.