Explaining Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication can increase the security of your online activities. This video explains phone-based two-factor authentication, with a demonstration of how to enable it on Twitter.

Many major web service providers now offer phone-based two-factor authentication under a variety of different names. To help you set things up, links to some relevant information are as follows:

[jonniappleseed]

Hi, HELP, Please? I was setting-up 2-factor authorization with Gmail and had a glitch where I was unable to access my Gmail! I spoke to Google support and was not able to get a link sent to my phone which was used in the 2-step process. If I get a link to my phone I will be able to change my password and access my account! If I get a question related to my security questions, I will be able to access my account!

To date, I was unable to get Google to send a link for my phone or my security question! The account is still active as I called my Google phone number associated with the account and was able to leave a voicemail!

Please, any thoughts would be so helpful?
Thanks,
JA

[SharvinNP]

It's about time you've made a new video, Christopher.

[gietie]

It would be nice to see biometric authentication on more platforms in the future. Already both Apple's and Samsung's flagship phones have a fingerprint scanner which you can use for unlocking your phone and even buying applications. I have also worked with some high-end Dell Latitude's which had a fingerprint scanner which could be used for logging in (and I presume also many other things). Using a biometric authentication for things like accessing your online bank account or an important e-mail account could make them even safer. 

[PowerMadHeadBanger]

What happens if you set up TFA and you lost your smartphone or for whatever reason your smartphone is not available?

[charliechopen]

I just got a Raspberry Pi, and I'm having a trouble choosing between Pidora, Arch or Raspbian... 

[Machariel]

Problem with phone-based TFA is there aren't many services that I trust to give my phone number. Secondly, biggest problem with huge amount of of web services isn't that they're not using TFA but instead they have other some really stupid security holes in their back-end that it doesn't matter if a website even has TFA.

[AntoineLeGrand]

Not to be rude but is this channel stock in the 80s?

[paultucker]

excellent simplicity!  just a screen shot of message to phone and entry into 2sa  would help!

[tahiatanju]

what should I do when I gave the wrong number??

[hashirmughal]

i use facebook tow factor authentication code but did, n get code plz help

[tipgraphicszambia]

i cant send text messages why? i need help here

[justgivemethetruth]

I don't understand how brute force password cracking can be a threat assuming that someone cannot try tens, hundreds of thousands of password combinations without setting off some kind of alarm? Of course, all bets are off if the encrypted password is known and the algorithm can be used to match it offline.

[walterworldtech]

You can now use the TFA to login to Gmail/YouTube using an app called Google Authenticator.
It provides what seems to be a time-based six-digit code. It's similar to the numbers sent via SMS, but the app will work even on airplane/flight mode, which is really useful especially when my phone carrier has such a faulty SMS service -- 3 out of 4 times, I simply won't get the code and have to rely on a backup option (secondary cellphone, landline, etc.) to complete the TFA procedure.

[rastislavborojevic]

You misspelled phone in the description :) Looking forward to new videos.

[borkasiamese]

Really glad to see you back! Thank you and good luck!
-Borka

[sumairsolangi]

I haven't received any code two factors authentication code pls help

[rajarora]

Hello Christopher, thank you for your tireless efforts to inform an average Jo the important things in Computing. I can assure you that this is not a thankless task. Are you considering doing a video on password keepers that are linked to your browsers e.g. Truekey, Lastpass etc.

[competitionmania]

lost my two factor any querry just now

[ZadakLeader]

Oh why do you have so little views :(. Your videos are so unique, and you explain things very well.

[rayrayray]

Great to see you back, , it was your PC Build video that got me started with my builds. Now I have my young son building computers, see here How To Build a PC For $250 Part 1