What is Multifactor Authentication?
What happens when you log in to a website is referred to as authentication. Normally, the website will ask for one piece of information to verify you, which is your password, after you have identified yourself using your username or email address.
Multifactor Authentication takes this a step further by requiring one or more extra pieces of information in order to authenticate you. These supplementary elements usually go beyond something you know (like a password) and include something you have (like an ID card) or something you are (like a fingerprint) (your fingerprint or a retinal scan, perhaps). You will not be able to log in to the website until you have all of the essential variables.
Why would I want Multifactor Authentication?
It’s far more difficult for individuals to impersonate you when you require these several types of authentication elements. They must not only figure out your password, but also take your ID card or imitate your fingerprint. Multifactor Authentication-protected accounts are usually significantly safer than password-protected accounts. In brief, Multifactor Authentication can help you secure yourself and fight fraud.
What types of Multifactor Authentication can I use with the GreggHost web panel?
The following choices are supported by GreggHost:
The Google Authenticator app generates one-time passcodes. This software requires a smartphone or mobile device to be installed.
The YubiKey is a hardware token that plugs into a USB port and generates a passcode.
What if I don’t have a smartphone or other mobile device?
Instead, you’ll need to get a YubiKey. Please make a proposal in the GreggHost User Forum if you’d like to see more options become accessible.
Doesn’t remembering a computer defeat the purpose of Multifactor Authentication?
Not at all. You haven’t stopped Multifactor Authentication by choosing to remember a computer; instead, you’ve instructed the server that a specific computer can be used as the second form of authentication instead of a one-time passcode.
Multifactor Authentication is designed to make it more difficult for someone to steal all of the information required to get into your account. You never know if a keylogger has been installed on a public computer, such as one at a library or an Internet café, and is saving your username and password. Even if someone steals your login and password, they won’t be able to log in to your account if you have to enter your one-time passcode on that computer.
On the other hand, if you’re sitting at home, using the computer GreggHost remembers, and you’re tricked into giving your username and password to a phishing site with the intent of misusing that information, the phishers won’t be able to log in to your account because their computer isn’t remembered and they’ll still need to use a one-time password, the phishers won’t be able to log in because their computer isn
How do I enable this feature?
For instructions on how to enable this functionality, see the following article:
Overview of Multifactor Authentication