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Security Beginner

What is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)?

A security method requiring two different forms of identification before granting access to an account.

2FA combines something you know (password) with something you have (phone, hardware key) or something you are (biometrics). Even if a password is compromised, the second factor prevents unauthorized access.

Methods include TOTP apps (Google Authenticator, Authy), SMS codes (less secure due to SIM swapping), hardware keys (YubiKey), push notifications, and biometric factors. 2FA significantly reduces account compromise risk.

Related Terms

Certificate Pinning
A security technique that associates a host with its expected TLS certificate or public key, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks with fraudulent certificates.
Session Hijacking
An attack where an adversary takes over a legitimate user session by stealing or predicting the session identifier.
Supply Chain Attack
A cyberattack that targets less-secure elements in the software supply chain to compromise downstream users and organizations.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
A strategy and set of tools that detect and prevent unauthorized transmission of sensitive data outside an organization.
Principle of Least Privilege
A security principle where users and programs receive only the minimum access rights needed to perform their specific tasks.
OWASP Top 10
A regularly updated list of the ten most critical web application security risks, published by the Open Web Application Security Project.
 View All Security Terms →