{"id":17400,"date":"2018-10-18T16:51:30","date_gmt":"2018-10-18T14:51:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zenkit.com\/?p=17400"},"modified":"2023-02-06T14:28:12","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T13:28:12","slug":"improve-account-security-with-two-factor-authentication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zenkit.com\/en\/blog\/improve-account-security-with-two-factor-authentication\/","title":{"rendered":"Improve Account Security with Two-Factor Authentication"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When it comes to security, nothing is more important than knowing that the person accessing data is who they say they are. Here at Zenkit<\/a>, we care deeply about the security of our users\u2019 content, which is why we\u2019re excited to roll out Two Factor Authentication (2FA) to all of our users today!<\/span><\/p>\n Security has been an issue since the first computer was created and, while physical security is important and GDPR<\/a> governs a lot of physical security issues, most people who wish to do harm do it from afar using a computer to gain access to your accounts. They have no need to physically access your computer or the servers where your data is stored.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While single-factor authentication (1FA) is what everyone is familiar with, often it isn\u2019t enough for sensitive data. 1FA is one layer of security, such as a password or a pin code. Something that you <\/span>know<\/span><\/i>, but also something that a hacker can find out if they’re clever.<\/span><\/p>\n Two Factor Authentication (2FA, also known as two-step verification) adds an extra element on top of the \u2018know\u2019 part. Not only do you need to <\/span>know<\/span><\/i> the password or pin code, but you also need to <\/span>have<\/span><\/i> something, like a token or a device. Since hackers don’t have access to your device, it’s almost impossible for them to log into your accounts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Enabling 2FA means that logging into an account has two steps:<\/span><\/p>\n Your phone or other device is the element or token that you need to <\/span>have,<\/span><\/i> as well as <\/span>knowing<\/span><\/i> your pin code or password. This adds a second level of physical security that would be hard for anyone in a far-off land to crack. This added layer of security is why Google, Instagram, the US government and even Facebook have added 2FA to their offerings (although the latter has also used it to <\/span>target ads at 2FA users<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n This is also why Zenkit has decided to optionally provide 2FA for all of our users. Not only is it important for us to be GDPR compliant with physical barriers to our servers, but it\u2019s also important for us to stay up to date with the latest security standards and provide our users with the option to protect access to their accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n To activate 2FA, go to your Zenkit profile and click on the \u2018Add-Ons\u2019 tab. Click on \u2018Enable\u2019 under \u2018Two Factor Authentication’. Scan the QR code provided using an authenticator app and enter the first code given to you by the app.<\/span><\/p>\n Many authentication apps frequently change the code, and a small timer counts down the seconds until the code is no longer valid. If the code expires before you\u2019ve finished entering it, just use the next code shown.<\/span><\/p>\n You can download an authenticator app\u00a0(like Google Authenticator) for your phone from the App Store or Play Store. We recommend that you choose a trusted provider for this. If you don\u2019t wish to use your mobile device, you can also use a dedicated 2FA device, such as yubikey.<\/span><\/p>\n Once your authentication is complete, Zenkit will suggest that you generate backup codes. Backup codes can be used to log in case you do not have access to the device with your authentication app on it. This is especially helpful in the case of loss or theft of your device. <\/span><\/p>\n We strongly suggest that you generate backup codes and store them in a secure location, such as in a password manager.<\/span><\/p>\n If you would like to generate new backup codes, you can do so by clicking on \u2018Settings\u2019 under \u2018Two Factor Authentication\u2019 in the \u2018Add-Ons\u2019 section of your Zenkit Profile. Generating new backup codes will invalidate any backup codes you generated previously. <\/span><\/p>\n\n
\nHow to Activate Two Factor Authentication in your Zenkit Account<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nGenerating Backup Codes<\/strong><\/h2>\n