Source: Anya Zhukova
Every year, 111.7 million Americans are hacked. Of those, 60% are mobile phone accounts. Think about how many times you log into your social media accounts per day. Tiktok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter.
You could be one of the 111.7 million. But, there’s an easy way to combat this rising issue and take preventive measures. Most commonly known as 2FA: Two-Factor Authentication, also known as 2-step verification. You’ve probably heard of it, or seen it pop up on your security settings. Two-factor authentication is a security system that utilizes two separate verification factors to ensure account security. Some of the most common forms of 2FA are passwords, along with a second form of verification that commonly consists of a code being sent to an indicated phone number or email address. Some apps also choose to utilize AI detectors, such as Captcha, checkboxes, sliders, etc.
Apple ID’s Two-Factor Authentication when attempting to log in through another device. Source: Apple Support
So…why is this important? Well, two-factor authentication is almost foolproof. New numbers report that 99.9% of automated attacks have been blocked by Two-Factor Authentication. While it only takes a few clicks to set up, Two-Factor Authentication has proven to be extremely beneficial, and an incredible precaution to take. However, as with any cyber-security platform, there are cracks and ways around Two-Factor. However, because of the way Two-Factor is structured, hackers are not able to break through these barriers on a mass scale. Instead, it would be more present in a targeted scenario. So… as long as no one’s after you, you should be fine. On a more serious note, it is possible to hack through 2FA, but rare. Steve Manzuik, a director of security research at Duo Security reinforces this by stating, “Bypassing 2FA is possible but uncommon”. So, while 2FA isn’t exactly a 100% guarantee, it still decreases your chances of being hacked immensely.
An example of a common scam to gain personal information to online accounts. Source: MIT
Without Two-Factor Authentication, you are significantly more exposed to threats, including online scams, phishing emails, online bugs/bugged links, and more. You consequently put yourself at risk of serious aftermath, including identity theft, financial fraud, shut-down of personal websites and social media accounts, viruses, and leaked personal information including your SSN, addresses, phone numbers, credit card information, etc.
Source: Mashable
With that being said, it’s probably in your best interest to activate Two-Factor Authentication. But, that leads us to another problem. How do you activate Two-Factor Authentication? While it varies from app to app, it is mostly located in the security section under the settings tab. This is common for most social media apps, including Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, Discord, and more. To further protect yourself, look out for these common signs that you are being hacked:
For further precautions, make sure you never give your password out to anyone and don’t utilize ‘Save Password’ features on shared devices. And of course, turn on 2FA. Everywhere.
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