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.
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 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:
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:
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?
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