Microsoft’s two-step verification a welcome feature
Business Technology | October 28, 2013
Want to safeguard your online accounts from hackers? Try two-step verification. Under this type of system, you first log onto your accounts with a traditional password. But that’s just the first step. You must also enter a passcode or some other form of identification to complete the log-on process. And the good news? Microsoft has introduced two-step verification for its accounts. And, as writer Ed Rhee writes in a recent column for CNET, computer users who want to protect themselves from hackers should sign up for it.
Roll out
As Rhee writes, Microsoft unveiled its own two-step verification process in mid-April. If you enable it, you’ll first have to enter a password to log onto your Microsoft accounts. Once you do that, you’ll need to take one more step: entering a personal security code to complete the log-in process.
Security code
To get your personal security code, you tell Microsoft either to e-mail it to you or send you the code using your mobile device. You can also use a Microsoft app to retrieve a security code. Once you have the code, you enter it, to complete the log-in process.
Why two-step?
It’s true that two-step verification does take more time. But it’s relatively easy for the savviest of hackers to crack passwords. Accounts protected only by passwords, then, are way too vulnerable. Adding a security code will mean that most hackers will pass by your accounts and go after the ones that are less secure.
Want to safeguard your online accounts from hackers? Try two-step verification. Under this type of system, you first log onto your accounts with a traditional password. But that’s just the first step. You must also enter a passcode or some other form of identification to complete the log-on process. And the good news? Microsoft has introduced two-step verification for its accounts. And, as writer Ed Rhee writes in a recent column for CNET, computer users who want to protect themselves from hackers should sign up for it.
Roll out
As Rhee writes, Microsoft unveiled its own two-step verification process in mid-April. If you enable it, you’ll first have to enter a password to log onto your Microsoft accounts. Once you do that, you’ll need to take one more step: entering a personal security code to complete the log-in process.
Security code
To get your personal security code, you tell Microsoft either to e-mail it to you or send you the code using your mobile device. You can also use a Microsoft app to retrieve a security code. Once you have the code, you enter it, to complete the log-in process.
Why two-step?
It’s true that two-step verification does take more time. But it’s relatively easy for the savviest of hackers to crack passwords. Accounts protected only by passwords, then, are way too vulnerable. Adding a security code will mean that most hackers will pass by your accounts and go after the ones that are less secure.