A Comprehensive Guide to Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Why MFA Matters
MFA is one of the single most effective controls for preventing account compromise. Microsoft estimates that MFA can block over 99.9% of account compromise attacks.
What is Multi-Factor Authentication?
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security technology that requires multiple methods of authentication from independent categories of credentials to verify a user's identity for a login or other transaction.
It provides a critical layer of defense that makes it significantly harder for attackers to access your accounts, even if they have stolen your password.
The Three Factors of Authentication
MFA combines two or more of the following independent credentials:
Something You Know
Passwords, PINs, or answers to secret questions.
Something You Have
Smartphones, hardware tokens (YubiKey), or smart cards.
Something You Are
Biometrics like fingerprints, face ID, or retina scans.
Why Passwords Are Not Enough
In the modern threat landscape, relying solely on passwords—even complex ones—is dangerous. Passwords can be compromised through:
- Phishing: Users are tricked into revealing credentials on fake login pages.
- Data Breaches: Attackers often dump millions of username/password pairs from compromised services.
- Credential Stuffing: Automated tools test stolen credentials against thousands of websites.
MFA neutralizes these threats because even if an attacker has your password, they cannot access your account without the second factor (like your phone or fingerprint).
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