#multi-factor-authentication

#multi-factor-authentication

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.

If you track your children's location using tech, you're not alone. A 2024 survey by Pew Research Center found that one in four parents monitor their kids' whereabouts using GPS. But is that private data safe? Consumer Reports evaluated 15 popular kid-tracking devices, and here's what they found. Overall, Apple's AirTags and Apple Watches, eufy's SmartTrack Link, and Garmin's Bounce performed well when it came to privacy and data security.

Let's be honest: most agencies don't have a blank check to invest in cybersecurity modernization. But that doesn't mean they're stuck. You don't need a full rip-and-replace to make meaningful progress; you need clarity, urgency and smart prioritization. Whether you're working with a full budget or a shoestring one, there are moves you can make today that will strengthen your defenses tomorrow.

LA lawyer Rob Freund shared an email via X showing that users are being told to avoid enrolling in the platform's MFA program until they are prompted to do so via email. PACER also told users to steer clear of the helplines to ease the burden on staff. "We ask that only users who receive a prompt to enroll in MFA when they log in should do so," the email reads. "If you do not receive an MFA enrollment prompt, no action is necessary. Please do not contact the [PACER Service Center] with questions about MFA until you are required to enroll. This ensures support is available for those who need it."

Virtualized environments are prime targets for cyberattacks due to their centralized nature and the potential vulnerabilities inherent in remote access protocols. Common Security Risks in Virtualization include credential-based attacks and exposure of RDP ports.

For anyone who still has doubts about MFA: just ask Snowflake CISO Brad Jones, who last year saw more than 160 of his customers' accounts compromised using stolen credentials. None of these had MFA enabled, and this safeguard likely would have prevented the intruders from accessing the customers' databases.