Multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA; two-factor authentication, or 2FA) is an <a href="/facts/Electronic_authentication/VTewE0wc">electronic authentication</a> method in which a user is granted access to a <a href="/facts/Website/SAsjJnca">website</a> or <a href="/facts/Application_software/YQuj7Kog">application</a> only after successfully presenting two or more distinct types of evidence (or <a href="/facts/Authentication/64y4S69b">factors</a>) to an <a href="/facts/Authentication/64y4S69b">authentication</a> mechanism. MFA protects <a href="/facts/Personal_data/384PbBg5">personal data</a>—which may include personal identification or <a href="/facts/Financial_asset/9TJ3MK4u">financial assets</a>—from being accessed by an unauthorized third party that may have been able to discover, for example, a single <a href="/facts/Password/WEoul230">password</a>.
Usage of MFA has increased in recent years. Security issues which can cause the bypass of MFA are fatigue attacks, <a href="/facts/Phishing/hvgfz4U8">phishing</a> and <a href="/facts/SIM_swap_scam/3AWJ5GGE">SIM swapping</a>.
Accounts with MFA enabled are significantly less likely to be compromised.

Multi-factor authentication open-in-new

Multi-factor authentication