Multi-Factor Authentication: Its uses and security benefits
Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is a security system that requires more than one method of authentication. It is a method of confirming a user’s identity, only after two or more pieces of evidence have been provided to an authentication mechanism. The three basic elements that can be used in Multi-factor Authentication are: (a) something the user knows, like a password or PIN (b) something the user has, like a mobile device, and (c) something the user is, like fingerprint, optics, or voice. Each of these factors can be referred to as knowledge, possession, and inherence respectively.
The password is the most widely used form of security measure available, and a lot of times, it is susceptible to vulnerability. In 2016, statistics revealed that the leading source of data breaches are hackers and cybercriminals who are after identity theft. The password, however, has a lot of shortcomings, as it does not provide strong enough identity check. The security of an account is based solely on the password, and anyone good enough can hack into a password and take what they need.