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The A to Z of security
Got the Love Bug? Scared of spyware? Read all about what's keeping techies awake at night...

By Natasha Lomas

Published: Tuesday 14 November 2006

Two-factor authentication

When it comes to beating fraudsters, if one security measure is good, two is better, right? That's the principle of two-factor authentication, which is getting big in the online banking world.

Security from A to Z

Click on the links below to find out more...

A is for Antivirus
B is for Botnets
C is for CMA
D is for DDoS
E is for Extradition
F is for Federated identity
G is for Google
H is for Hackers
I is for IM
J is for Jaschan (Sven)
K is for Kids
L is for Love Bug
M is for Microsoft
N is for Neologisms
O is for Orange
P is for Passwords
Q is for Questions
R is for Rootkits
S is for Spyware
T is for Two-factor authentication
U is for USB sticks/devices
V is for Virus variants
W is for Wi-fi
X is for OS X
Y is for You
Z is for Zero-day

It works alongside usernames and passwords as a second level of security, helping to ensure a user of a service such as e-banking is the person they say they are.

The second level of security can be anything - from hardware that generates a single-use number to a series of pre-selected security questions. Typically though it is the physical devices – tokens and password/PIN generators – that are most commonly discussed.

It's early days for the tech, but it already has its critics. Back in 2005, security guru Bruce Schneier gave it a vote of no confidence, saying it is "designed to solve the issues from 10 years ago".

Click here to read the two-factor authentication Cheat Sheet.