About once a month I will get a call from someone who is upset because their account was hacked and wants to know what they can do to stop it from happening in the future. The truth is enabling two factor authentication (2FA) is one of the best things you can do to make sure your accounts don’t get hacked.
Here is a list of popular services where you should enable 2FA:
- Google/Gmail: Google’s two-factor authentication sends you a 6-digit code via text message when you attempt to log in from a new machine, though it also works with the Google Authenticator app for Android, iOS, and BlackBerry. You can save each machine for 30 days. You can enable it here.
- Facebook: Facebook’s two-factor authentication, called “Login Approvals,” sends you a 6-digit code via text message when you attempt to log in from a new machine. It also works with apps like Google Authenticator for Android, iOS, and BlackBerry, as well as the “Code Generator” feature of the Facebook app. You can also authorize a new machine from Facebook.com on a saved machine if you don’t have your phone handy. You can enable it here,
- Apple: Apple’s two-factor authentication sends you a 4-digit code via text message or Find My iPhone notifications when you attempt to log in from a new machine. You can enable it here.
- Twitter: Twitter’s two-factor authentication sends you a 6-digit code via text message when you attempt to log in from a new machine. You can enable it here,
- Dropbox: Dropbox’s two-factor authentication sends you a 6-digit code via text message when you attempt to log in from a new machine, though it also works with Google Authenticator and a few other similar authentication apps. You can enable it here.
- PayPal: PayPal’s two-factor authentication sends you a 6-digit code via text message when you attempt to log in from a new machine. You can read more about it and enable it here.
- Microsoft Accounts: Microsoft’s two-factor authentication sends you a 7-digit code via text message or email when you attempt to log in from a new machine, though it also works with a number of authenticator apps. You can enable it here.
- Yahoo! Mail: Yahoo’s two-factor authentication sends you a 6-digit code via text message when you attempt to log in from a new machine. You can enable it here.
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn’s two-factor authentication sends you a 6-digit code via text message when you attempt to log in from a new machine. You can enable it here.
You should also check out twofactorauth.org to see if other accounts you use have the ability.
