#Sign in to google authenticator online how to#

Most two factor authentication setups online use a mobile phone (something you have) to text you a code that’s needed to log in to Gmail, for example, along with your password. Imagine if someone could take money from your account just by guessing your PIN (from anywhere in the world) that’s what solely relying on a password is similar to. Like when you withdraw money from an ATM, the card is something you have and PIN something you know both are needed to get cash. Two factor is adding something you have along with something you know. The more complicated a password, the more difficult it is to guess, but passwords can simply be lifted from keyboards or swiped from databases you have no control over. So all someone needs to do to access your account is know the same thing – in this example, your password. When you log in to, say, Facebook with a password, that’s one factor: something you know.

In a process that should take you about 2-4 minutes per account, here’s how to set up and use two factor authentication even when you’re dialing long distance. Most tutorials however emphasize working with an active phone number, which you might not always have if you’re traveling frequently.

You can significantly improve the security for most things your log in to daily – even from password breaches the like 5 million Gmail accounts exposed recently – by using two factor authentication. One way to reduce the risk is to manage your passwords digitally but passwords can be stolen in a number of ways and places, such as Internet cafes.

Hopping on to open airport wireless networks or checking your email from hotel computers are great conveniences but can expose your online accounts to password theft.

#Sign in to google authenticator online how to#