A couple of weeks ago, my phone decided it didn’t like my trip into some deep hot springs; and although I was determined to get my perfect Instagram perfect shot whilst there, the moisture inevitably won out.
My phone died, the digitiser in the screen was gone and alas a replacement was needed.
Transferring of apps, photos, contacts, and most things was seamless, but my authenticator app was wiped, meaning I had no access to many things including Facebook (!). I did eventually sort access out through a process, but I can tell you I kept pushing the Facebook icon on my phone, like a drug, just hoping it would work again and wishing I had created a secondary backup authentication option.
Below: The only 2 known pictures that survived the steam…
What is 2FA?
Two-factor authentication, two-step verification or even known as dual-factor authentication, 2FA as it is commonly known, is an increased security measure to make sure your privacy is safe in whichever platform you are operating. It requires not one, but yes you guessed it, 2 levels of security for access.
Commonly a password and then a second authentication, through either an authenticator app such as the Google Authenticator app, or another secondary approval such as text and email approval.
Why do I need it?
If you access platforms including any social media, accounting software such as Xero and MYOB, email and database platforms like Mailchimp, online banking, websites content management system such as WordPress or your business’s Google Analytics – then you must, including staff, have two-factor authentication initiated.
Some reasons include the purposes of protecting your client’s data, reducing the risk of hackers taking over your digital assets including social media, and exposure of sensitive accounting information.
How do I activate it?
Most software platforms have 2FA available these days and it can be activated through the settings of the account, usually with a QR code that you scan with your phone whilst in the authenticator app. It’s an easy process, in fact so easy, that if you didn’t do it and were hacked or had a security breach, you would be kicking yourself.
Google Play link here.
iOS Apple Store link here.
The upside of 2FA
Complete and utter security across all your online assets, reducing the risk of hackers and anyone accessing your information. The codes change every 60 seconds and is easily accessible on your mobile which travels with you anywhere.
The downside of 2FA
If you lose your phone or delete duplicated codes in the authenticator app, you could be locked out of your accounts for good with no simple solution in sight.
To avoid this, ensure you have a secondary backup authentication channel such as text, and email and make sure to print or store your backup codes from your Google Account somewhere safe.
What will you do now?
Suppose you don’t already have this security in place, and you still aren’t in a rush to install an authenticator app in the proceeding 5 minutes of reading this. In that case, you leave yourself and your business wide open to an array of privacy risks and most importantly hackers. You might as well post a photo of your credit card online and wait for someone to start syphoning your bank account or throw a picture of your driver’s license and all your client’s private details online – I’m being dramatic, but you get the idea.
At Digital Marketing AOK, all our Team Members have a 2FA setup on their social media platforms to keep our client’s data and details out of risk and as secure as possible.
Will you be taking the risk?
If you would like to chat more about having your social media managed on our secure agency platforms, contact us today. We start with coffee!
