Tools / Cyber Security Interview Questions
What is Two-Factor Authentication?
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is a specific case of MFA that requires exactly two of the three authentication factor categories, most commonly a password plus a one-time code or push notification from a device the user owns.
A common flow: the user enters their password, then a six-digit code generated by an authenticator app is required before access is granted.
- SMS codes, convenient but vulnerable to SIM-swapping attacks
- Authenticator apps, generate time-based codes offline
- Push notifications, a tap-to-approve prompt on a registered device
- Hardware tokens, physical keys that must be plugged in or tapped
2FA blocks most automated credential-stuffing attacks since a stolen password alone is no longer enough to log in.
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