"2FA or two-factor authentication is a specific type of multi-factor authentication. As the name suggests, 2FA requires two distinct forms of user verification factors to access a specific protected, registered user-only software system. In the past, software teams used only a one-factor authentication strategy with users' passwords, but nowadays, with growing security concerns and user authentication evolution, every digital product uses 2FA with password-based authentication, starting from simple SMS OTPs (One Time Tokens) to futuristic AI-powered adaptive 2FA methods and high-security hardware keys."
"Editor's note: This article has been significantly expanded and updated to reflect the evolution of two-factor authentication (2FA) over the past decade by LogRocket author Shalitha Suranga. The new version includes modern authentication methods such as hardware keys, push notifications, adaptive 2FA, and emerging passkey technologies, along with expanded UX design guidance, recovery strategies, and implementation considerations for product teams."
Two-factor authentication (2FA) requires two distinct verification factors and evolved from hardware-based PIN tokens to a wide range of modern methods. Early implementations used RSA SecurID time-based PIN devices limited to high-security organizations. Increasing cyber attacks and more powerful cracking hardware prompted broader adoption in the early 2000s. Contemporary 2FA approaches include SMS OTPs, push notifications, adaptive AI-powered methods, hardware security keys, and emerging passkeys. Effective 2FA selection balances security with user experience, incorporating painless enrollment, robust recovery mechanisms, and implementation considerations to fit product requirements and threat models.
Read at LogRocket Blog
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