What Is Strong Authentication?

Passwords are simple, but they're only sometimes easy to remember. That's where strong authentication comes in. Strong authentication blends a minimum of two different authentication factors of different types to improve the safety of identity verification. Passwords tend to present a low level of security for systems that store or process the data elements defined as restricted, like credit card information or Social Security numbers, because they can be guessed, stolen, guessed again, and stolen again. With strong authentication, you'll have an extra layer of protection against fraudsters who try to steal your identity by guessing your password. The only thing more important than your password is that it's not you. While many people like to think they're clever enough to craft a good password, it's easier than you think for a hacker to guess or break into your system. This can happen through impersonation, guessing, observing, snooping, borrowing, and dictionary attacks. Passwords are like the first wheel on a car: they get the job done, but they're not exactly state-of-the-art. You're taking a considerable risk if you're using a password to protect your system. They're easy to guess, impersonate, and copy. They're also vulnerable to dictionary attacks and social engineering. And even if you use two-factor authentication, there's still a chance that someone might hack into your account through other means (like social engineering). Here's the good news: there's an alternative! Robust authentication techniques like biometrics or smart cards can add a layer of protection to your system without compromising convenience or usability. That way, even if someone steals your password (which is still possible), they won't be able to access your system without another authentication factor, which makes all the difference in keeping you safe from hackers. So how do we protect ourselves? Two-factor authentication (2FA) involves using two different types of information, something you know and something you have to access your account. This advanced level of authentication assurance means fewer worries about your security since every time you log in with 2FA enabled, it'll require both factors before granting access to your account.