2FA is an English abbreviation meaning 2-Factor Authentication (two-factor authentication). It’s a sign-in method that requires a user to verify their identity with two factors—typically a password plus something else.
What are authentication factors
- Something you know – password, PIN, security question.
- Something you have – mobile phone, hardware token, smart card.
- Something you are – biometrics (fingerprint, face recognition, retina scan).
Examples of two-factor authentication:
- Email login: enter your password (1st factor), then type a code from an authenticator app on your phone (2nd factor).
- Online banking: password + approval in a mobile app or SMS code.
In short
- 2FA = slightly less convenient, but much more secure and less dependent on user discipline than single-factor authentication (SFA).
- Improves protection against identity theft.
- Reduces the risk of successful attacks when passwords are leaked.
- Now a standard for banking, cloud services, and business systems.