Multi-factor Authentication is Ruining My Life
In the new digital age we’re all navigating, advancements happen all the time—from complex algorithms to artificial intelligence. Our lives are becoming increasingly meshed with technology. Still, the convenience of electronics at our fingertips can be easily counteracted by inconvenience. In turn, features that are supposed to make our lives easier actually complicate our routines.
Logging into accounts should be simpler than ever with options such as “text me the code,” verify this, and authenticate that. Still, it’s so easy to be put off by an extra step in accessing an application or site. The world is always telling the younger generation to put down their phones, but doing so would make life almost unfunctional. We wonder why we’re so deeply entwined with tech, but today’s standards make it nearly impossible to sit behind fewer than two screens.
Tech overload is unavoidable if we can’t log in without a notification on another device, within an app, hidden like Russian nesting dolls. Registering for classes in college can sometimes require five different confirmations of identity through Duo Mobile, a popular two-factor authentication program for enhanced security. We consistently use biometrics like our faces and fingerprints to unlock our phones with ease, so it makes sense why we’re stunted by the hassle of applications like Duo Mobile and Microsoft Authenticator.
MFA, or multi-factor authentication, is based on user knowledge, personal identifiers, and possession of a device as an interface for these programs. Despite its annoying nature, there are real benefits of added security when it comes to protecting private aspects of life, such as social media platforms and emails. Hacking prevention is crucial in shielding sensitive information from being leaked, stolen, or sold off. MFA is also an enticing outlet for these hackers to utilize “fatigue,” which can overwhelm these systems and attack people who fall victim to the “accept all” mindset of notifications.
The multi-factor authentication market is worth billions, but is MFA DTM? How often must we convince technology that we are not robots? The future of MFA is rooted in passwordless solutions that are supposed to make the use of technology on a day-to-day basis run smoothly and efficiently. Strength is the main initiative of most authentication companies working to provide the most secure methods of protection. The days of remembering which combination of the same password with weird symbols are soon over. While passive MFA is the current standard, continuous MFA is becoming increasingly useful when it comes to added security and more efficient detection.
Phones have expanded beyond just recreational communication devices and have become necessary tools in both school and work settings. It’s up to us whether we want to safeguard our smartphones and tech at the cost of an added step. Although it may take some getting used to, it seems MFA is here to stay.
Strike Out,
Matilda Pollard
Boca Raton
Matilda Pollard is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. She is a proud Pisces who loves all things creative. Her hobbies include trying new foods and watching classic rom-coms. You can reach her at mpollard280@gmail.com
