Two-factor authentication is one of the best things that the giants of the web and online banks have invented to ensure that your accounts are protected against any possible theft or "hacking" attempt. The fact is that passwords, however strong they may be, are never as secure as they once could have been, and being relatively easy to discover, through underhanded computer skills and social engineering tricks.
To rest assured, therefore, it is important, if possible, to activate two-factor authentication which can also be called two-step verification .
READ FIRST: How to create and manage web account passwords
Two-factor authentication works like this:
When you need to access a website such as Facebook, for example, after writing your username and password, you are asked to enter an identification code .
This code is always different and is generated / sent on the account owner's private mobile phone .
Two-factor authentication requires both "something you know" (your password) and "something you have" (your phone).
If the PC used to log in is trusted, you can tell the site not to ask for this code in the future so as to make access faster.
The double verification code can be sent via SMS to the mobile number configured on the account or it can be generated by an application that has been configured in advance.
The most popular app used to use two-factor authentication is Google Authenticator, available for Android and iPhone mobile phones, which can be used for any type of account that accepts double verification, including of course Google accounts.
Let's see then all the main sites where it is possible to enable double verification and protect the two-factor authentication account .
1) Google / Gmail / Blogger / Youtube and all Google sites: Google's two-factor authentication sends a 6-digit code via SMS if you try to access the account from a new PC or from a mobile phone.
To enable it, you can follow the guide for Google and Gmail Login and Login with two-step verification
2) Microsoft, Windows and Outlook.com with two-step verification .
Google Authenticator can be used.
3) Facebook login with double verification and security code .
You can use the Facebook app as a code generator or even Google Authenticator.
4) Yahoo Mail with the second access verification
5) Dropbox has two-step verification.
Google Authenticator can be used to generate the code.
6) LastPass, one of the most important password management services, allows you to use double verification authentication with the Google Authenticator app (here the guide)
7) Apple : You can protect the Apple ID for use on iTunes, on a Mac and on iPhone and iPad with two-factor authentication.
Apple sends a 4-digit code via SMS or using Find My iPhone when trying to sign in from a new device.
To activate it, just go to the Apple account management page and then go to the Password and Security section.
8) Twitter : Twitter's two-step verification sends a 6-digit code via SMS message when you try to log in from another computer.
You can activate it from the security settings.
9) PayPal : PayPal's two-factor authentication is paid and you can get more information on this page
10) Steam has two-factor authentication that can be activated from the program settings.
11) LinkedIn allows you to activate a double check via mobile phone, sending a 6-digit code via SMS message when trying to access from a different location.
Double check can be activated from this settings page.
12) WordPress supports double verification via Google Authenticator as explained in this guide
13) Evernote supports double verification via Google Authenticator which can be enabled from here.
14) Apple has the verification of the Apple ID and iCLoud and can be activated from the management of the Apple account
15) Even on Whatsapp you can activate the verification in two steps
On this page the complete list of websites that protect accounts through double verification.
If you have an account on one of these sites, it is worth enabling double login verification for each of them.
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