Facebook says that users can now sign up for two-factor authentication as it introduces two new functionalities. The Facebook two-factor authentication tool essentially facilitates additional layers of security for online accounts using apps like Google Duo and Google Authenticator, thus strengthening the security on the site.
The latest update, which is now mostly available to most users, was quietly rolled out by Facebook last month. Hitherto, you could only sign up for the feature with a phone number or through Facebook’s own code initiator that lives within the app itself. With the new two-factor authentication feature update, it has become much easier for users to enable two-factor authentication by creating a streamlined setup flow that guides users through the entire process.
The two-factor authentication is set at a considerable standard of security even if someone tries to get your password or it gets leaked as part of a hack; with the new provision, no one can log in without physical access to your second-factor device. Scott Dickens, Product Manager at Facebook, writes that two-factor authentication “is an industry best practice for providing additional account security.”
Users can be enabled by the stipulated provision of two-factor authentication when they log in to their Facebook account, go to the Settings menu, and click on the Security option. Then by selecting the option to enable two-factor authentication, they can follow the setup to complete the process.
Another Facebook-owned service Whatsapp also has a form of two-factor authentication that can be enabled. It allows you to set a six-digit pin that you will need to enter if you register your number with WhatsApp again. This prevents further hacks when someone else is trying to register your phone number on another device.
Though the security feature does provide significant protection, it has its own limits. Facebook users reported receiving SMS notifications from the social media website after signing up for the two-factor authentication security feature. Facebook responded it saying that it was a bug that was not meant to be sent.
