Sometimes called two-factor, sometimes multi-factor, sometimes sign-in, sometimes login, sometimes authentication… whatever the name, you should be using it!
Wikipedia explains:
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a method of computer access control in which a user is granted access only after successfully presenting several separate pieces of evidence to an authentication mechanism – typically at least two of the following categories: knowledge (something they know),possession (something they have),and inherence (something they are).
Two-factor authentication (also known as 2FA) is a method of confirming a user’s claimed identity by utilizing a combination of two different components. Two-factor authentication is a type of multi-factor authentication.
A good example from everyday life is the withdrawing of money from an ATM; only the correct combination of a bank card (something that the user possesses) and a PIN (personal identification number, something that the user knows) allows the transaction to be carried out.
Software programs have all implemented it as security options when logging in and if using the same device you can select ‘enabled’ for 30 days option.
It seems crooks are accessing users log in credentials in all manner of ways and getting smarter and smarter about it. Who is guilty of using the same password for multiple applications? The crooks use the information they grab to try and log into all manner of programs or apps to gain access. Some programs notify you that your username has been used from an unusual location to access their software or that passwords or account details have changed which is great. The smart software gets, the smarter the criminals get too.
Multifactor authentication restricts this unwanted access.
