This week, Microsoft has started rolling out Microsoft Two-Step Security for online accounts and services to help keep your account more secure. This move follows other large cloud storage providers such as Dropbox, Evernote, and Google, who have already implemented similar security measures.
The Microsoft Two-Step Security will be rolling out to accounts for Windows Phone, Xbox, Outlook.com, Skype, SkyDrive, and Office accounts, making each one more secure. This enhanced security feature is designed to provide an additional layer of protection, ensuring that your personal and sensitive information remains safe from unauthorized access.
How Microsoft Two-Step Security Works
“More than a year ago, we began bringing two-step verification for certain critical activities, like editing credit cards and subscriptions at commerce.microsoft.com and xbox.com, or accessing files on another one of your computers through SkyDrive.com. For these scenarios, two-step verification is required 100 percent of the time for everyone, given the sensitive nature of these tasks.”
“This Microsoft Two-Step Security release enables optional two-step verification for your entire Microsoft account. Two-step verification is when we ask you for two pieces of information anytime you access your account — for example, your password plus a code sent to a phone or email on file as security info.”
Two-step verification, also known as two-factor authentication (2FA), is a security process in which the user provides two different authentication factors to verify themselves. This method is designed to protect both the user’s credentials and the resources the user can access. The first factor is typically a password, and the second factor is usually a code sent to a mobile device or email. This ensures that even if someone manages to obtain your password, they would still need the second factor to gain access to your account.
Benefits of Two-Step Security
Implementing two-step security offers several benefits:
1. Enhanced Security: By requiring two forms of identification, it becomes significantly harder for unauthorized users to access your account.
2. Protection Against Phishing: Even if a phishing attack compromises your password, the attacker would still need the second factor to access your account.
3. Peace of Mind: Knowing that your account has an extra layer of security can provide peace of mind, especially for accounts containing sensitive information.
For more information on the new Microsoft Two-Step Security, jump over to the website for details.
Source: Hot Hardware
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