What is 2FA? How to turn on two-factor authentication

2FA simply means turning on two-factor authentication. People who need to protect their accounts and keep hackers out usually choose it. With today’s digital technology and the complexity of the internet, two-factor authentication has become very important and widespread. Google announced it in 2011, and since then 2FA has done a lot to secure users’ accounts. Let’s look at Mona Media explains what 2FA is in more detail below.

What is 2FA?

2FA comes from the English term Two-factor authentication. In plain terms, it means verification in two steps. This two-step security method works like this:

• Step 1: the user signs in to their account with a username and password.
• Step 2: then enters a verification code, the 2FA code.

The 2FA code is usually sent to the user’s email or phone number so they can verify and sign in.

• Apps such as Facebook, Google or Adobe… send the 2FA code by SMS.
• Software from Epic Games or Microsoft… usually verifies by email.

This two-step authentication makes it safer to access your accounts. If anyone signs in without permission, the system sends a verification code to your email or phone, which warns you of activity you did not start.

Some people still skip 2FA to sign in faster. But for important accounts that hold sensitive information, two-factor authentication is essential.

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How 2FA works

For everyday use, a password is all you need to sign in. But if your computer has a keylogger or spyware installed, the risk of your password being stolen and your system being broken into is very high.

2FA adds a layer of security by verifying your identity before you sign in. The system sends a code to your phone and email. You read the SMS or open the email, get the code, and enter it in the 2FA field. You only sign in successfully when the 2FA code is correct.

Two-factor authentication is now widely required on social media, modern apps and online money transfer systems. Even if a hacker breaks in and steals your password, they cannot get the code sent to your personal email or SMS, so your security is much stronger.

Advantages of 2FA

As technology advances, hackers get more sophisticated and better at what they do. Experts say 90% of passwords can be cracked within 6 hours. Some people use the same password everywhere, which makes attacks even easier. You could say you are lucky if your password has not been stolen yet. Because of this big weakness, service providers and software developers have worked on adding another layer of verification to protect user accounts better.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) brings several benefits:

• Stronger security makes accounts harder to break into. Users avoid having passwords and information stolen by malware and spyware. With better account security, people can use their accounts and make transactions online with more peace of mind.
• If you forget your password or it gets stolen, two-factor authentication is the best way to protect your account.
• The weaknesses of ordinary passwords, which let 90% of them be hacked, are greatly reduced.

Users should be security-aware and use two-factor authentication to protect their accounts as well as possible.

Disadvantages of 2FA

Two-layer authentication has many advantages and offers fairly high security. However, when you secure your apps with it, there are some disadvantages of 2FA, including:

• It takes extra time to sign in: You spend extra time going through another security layer before you can open your app.
• Integration: two-layer security still depends on a third-party service provider. Because it is a third party, a business has little control over these outside services if something unexpected goes wrong.
• Maintenance: to keep the feature working well and improve the user experience, 2FA gets updates that cost you time. In some cases, maintenance can also involve inefficient management of database 2FA users.

How to turn on 2FA

Most service providers now upgrade their two-factor authentication systems. If you have not turned on 2FA, follow the steps below:

How to set up 2FA on Facebook

To turn on 2FA on Facebook, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Sign in to your personal Facebook account and choose Settings.
• Step 2: Go to Security and login to turn on 2FA.
• Step 3: Choose Use two-factor authentication, click Edit and then Enable.
• Step 4: The last step is to choose the verification method you want, such as Text Message by SMS or Security Keys. You can also choose Code Generator or Recovery Codes.

You have now turned on two-factor authentication on Facebook to protect your account as well as possible. You can feel safer against the Facebook hacking scams many people still run into today.

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Set up 2FA on Gmail

On Gmail, the two-factor method is called 2-Step Verification. To turn on 2FA on your email, do the following:

• Step 1: Sign in to your personal Gmail account and go to My Account.
• Step 2: In My Account, find Security Checkup and click 2-Step Verification.
• Step 3: Finally, choose your verification methods, the same as with Facebook: SMS, or Security Keys, Code Generator or Recovery Codes.

Users can also choose Google prompt. With this option you do not need to enter a code. You just tap Yes or No to verify. It is faster and avoids mistyping the 2FA code and having to re-enter it several times.

Set up 2FA on Outlook

To set up two-factor authentication on Outlook:

• Step 1: Sign in to your Microsoft account to start.
• Step 2: Then choose two-step verification and go to the management section.
• Step 3: Continue by choosing your device and verification methods, then confirm your choices.

With just these simple steps, you have set up 2FA on Outlook.

How to turn off 2FA on Google

Turning off 2FA is quite simple, but it leaves your device more exposed to attackers. Think carefully before you turn off 2FA on Google.

Turn off 2FA on a computer

• Step 1: Go to your Google account
• Step 2: Under “Security”, click 2-Step Verification
• Step 3: Choose the option “Turn off”
• Step 4: A box will appear asking whether you want to turn off 2-Step Verification. When it appears, tick the option “Turn off”

To stay safe, you can also revoke all the backup codes you saved on your Google account.

Turn off 2FA on a phone

The steps on a phone are similar to a computer. Do the following:

• Step 1: Sign in to your Google account;
• Step 2: After signing in, choose the section “Security”, then tap 2-Step Verification;
• Step 3: Choose the option “Turn off”;
• Step 4: A window will ask whether you want to turn off 2-Step Verification. Tap the option turn off.

Revoke all the backup codes saved on your Google account to stay safe.

To turn off 2FA on iPhone and iPad:

• Step 1: Go to and sign in to your Google or Gmail account;
  + On iPhone or iPad, open Gmail;
  + At the top right, tap your profile picture or initials –> then tap Manage your Google Account;
  + If you do not use Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com.
• Step 2: Choose the section “Security” at the top;
• Step 3: Choose 2-Step Verification under Signing in to Google;
• Step 4: The section “Turn off”appears, tap it;
• Step 5: A window then appears asking you to confirm turning off 2-Step Verification. Choose “Turn off”.

Revoke all the backup codes saved on your Google account to stay safe

If you do not want hackers visiting your accounts and need full protection of your account information, learn about 2FA and turn it on today.

Online accounts give people many ways to communicate and make transactions. But the risk of account theft by hackers is high. Once an account is lost, it is hard to get back, or you get it back after suffering a lot of damage. Two-factor authentication helps you upgrade the security of your system. To learn more about what 2FA is in detail, or if you need help turning on 2FA, contact us.