Apple added two-step verification in 2013 to increase the security of its Apple ID accounts. The extra authentication step was added to iCloud in September 2014 following a high-profile celebrity hack that led to the release of leaked photos. More recently two-factor authentication was enabled for iMessage and FaceTime, allowing users to lock further down those accounts and prevent unauthorized access.
How Does Two-Factor Authentication Work
Two-factor authentication is an additional security feature that requires you to enter not one, but two pieces of information when you login to an account. This two-factor login makes it harder for hackers to access your Apple account and keeps your personal information as secure as possible.
For your Apple accounts, you will need to verify your identity as the account holder by entering both the password you created for the account and either your Recovery Key or a 4-digit verification code that is sent from Apple to a trusted device registered on your account. This trusted device is an iOS device in your possession that is capable of receiving a 4-digit verification code via SMS or Find My iPhone.
Enabling Two-Factor Authentication
Enabling two-factor authentication is a multi-part process that takes just a few minutes to complete. It should not be done hastily as the process requires you to record and store a recovery key that provides instant access to your account in case it is locked following a hacking attempt. You can enable two-factor authentication as follows:
- Go to My Apple ID.
- Select Manage your Apple ID and sign into the account.
- Select Password and Security.
- Answer your security questions and then click Continue.
- Under Two-Step Verification, select the Get Started link.
- Read through the instructional screens that explain the feature.
- Click the Get Started button to begin.
- Set up at least one trusted device by clicking on “Add a phone number…”.
- Enter your phone number and select Next.
- Enter the four-digit verification code sent to your phone and click Verify.
- You can also verify any other iOS device that already has Find My iPhone/iPad,/iPod touch. Select Verify to send a code to that device and add it as a trusted device.
- Click on Continue when done verifying your devices.
- Write down and print your Recovery Key and then select Continue.
- Enter your Recovery Key and click on Confirm.
- Click on the checkbox if you agree to the conditions and then click on Enable Two-step Verification to complete the process.
- Clicking on cancel anytime before this last step will halt the process.
Using Two-Factor Authentication
Once enabled, two-factor authentication secures your account by requiring both a password and a verification code that is sent to your trusted device when you do the following:
- Login to your My Apple ID online account
- Login to iCloud on a new device or at iCloud.com
- Sign into iMessage, Game Center, or FaceTime
- Initiate an iTunes, iBooks, or App Store purchase from a new device
- Request Apple ID support from Apple
You also may need to configure and use app-specific passwords for all third-party apps that access your iCloud data and don’t natively support Apple’s two-step verification process.
Did you enable two-factor authentication for your Apple ID? Why or Why not?
